Continuation (2):
Having woken from the racket of the Amazons, Kasumi now nervously served tea to the large
group that had forcefully entered her home. They had, as Shampoo had done several times, entered
uninvited by making a reasonably large hole in the wall. The 'construction' had roused the
entire household, each one having found a weapon, may it be pan or mallet, and had crept
downstairs. After a confrontation of who the midnight 'visitors' were, even though two already
knew exactly who, the round of people had settled for a 'chat.'
Placing the tray on the small table, Kasumi knelt beside her father and poured thirteen
cups, placing them firstly in front of the seven Amazons. Her hand hurriedly snapped back from
each one of them, almost as if they were waiting to cut it off.
The leader, who sat in the middle, was a burly sort of woman, and wore the most armor.
Uninterested in her tea, her eyes bore into the youngest residents of the household, the man and
woman. Her eyes squinting with anger, she turned to the two old men and the younger women beside
them.
"You, go," she grunted, pointing to them. Soun frowned, returning her glare.
"If this concerns any of my family, then it concerns me!" he retorted, tears running down
his cheeks. Akane leaned over to him and patted his arm.
"Go on up, daddy. We'll take care of it." Soun nodded happily and stood, followed by
Kasumi, Nabiki, and Genma. Bowing, they headed up the stairs, each one exchanging a worried
glance back.
Ranma and Akane, now alone with the 'hunters,' refused to meet their eyes. They hadn't
expected them to stop at their home, but, evidently, it must have been their first target.
Ranma knew that he wouldn't tell that Shampoo had been there, but, glancing at his partner beside
him, he was unsure of what she would admit to.
"Ooo! This good tea! You have some!" A younger woman of the group with the same broken
Japanese as Shampoo held her cup out to the leader, who in turn swatted her hand away. The
younger yelped as the hot liquid sloshed over the side of the short cup and splattered on her
bare legs. Quickly silencing her with a forceful line in Chinese, the leader smacked her across
her face, then turned back to the two.
"Where s X'ian Pu?" she asked, menace flooding her voice. Ranma glared at her, his hands
clenching into fists.
"We wouldn't know," he answered calmly. He forced back a lump in his throat as a small
hand snaked into his, his eyes shooting to meet Akane's. A peaceful expression donned her face, which showed faith in him. She knew he'd keep his honor, and would lie if it meant his friend's safety.
"You lie," the Amazon screeched, her hand lashing out. Ranma's reflexes caused him to
react as well, snatching her wrist in his. Throwing it forcefully back to her, as if it were an
object unattached to her, he growled.
"Leave my home. Go back to China. You won't find her here."
The Amazons glanced at each other, save the leader's hard expression that had locked onto
Ranma's. She refused to believe him, and also knew for a fact that Shampoo had been there
before. Two younger Amazons that had visited here in Nerima before had told her so.
"She left... where she go?" she asked, her voice a mutter. Akane shook her head.
"China."
Sunlight was torture the next morning as it woke the traveler up. Rubbing her eyes
fitfully, Shampoo stretched her tired limbs and allowed her eyes to adjust. She had walked/ran
until well past midnight, and, her eyelids becoming cumbersome had climbed the tallest tree she
could find away from the road. She slept no longer than dawn, and was now back on her feet for
another trek.
*Shampoo no even know where Hiroshima is...* she though, remembering the city's name from
the other night. She sighed wistfully, thinking of what laid ahead. She knew that the Hunters
were on her heels, and that they were relentless to her pleading.
Hours passed before Shampoo thankfully came across another city. When she had spotted it
amid the trees she traveled by, she had prayed that it was her destination. Excited, she rushed
forward towards the city's limit, where she welcomed the sound of business.
In the distance, from where Shampoo could see at the head of a street, was a seaport, lined with
boats. A tear sprung to her eye as Irene's voice flooded her thoughts, her comforting words only
a mere memory. Nonetheless, joy overrode her sorrow as the Amazon made her way down the busy
sidewalks.
"Break's over, boy. Time to get back to work."
Sighing, the man addressed placed the store's trademark cap back on his head and got to
his feet. Re-pinning his nametag, which read "Jon," to his shirt, he headed back to the store's
front, the cash registers and customers awaiting him.
"Getting lazy, boy," the old man joked, clapping a hand on Jon's shoulder. Jon sent a
sideways glance towards the man before chuckling.
"Who are you to talk, Uncle," he joked back, reminding the man of his age. He grunted a
reply to the younger, threatening childishly to dock his pay.
Shaking his head, Jon turned to a waiting customer, quickly scanning her items. He never
knew why he returned day to day to this boring Hell of a job.
*At least it pays good money for stocking,* he confided, handing the woman her change.
After saying his usual "Have a good day," his attention was grasped by a certain customer who had
just entered his Uncle's merchandise store. He hadn't seen her in the area; then again the city
was awfully large. But never had he seen a woman with such lavender hair. He refused to believe
he would have missed her.
Summoning his courage, being as shy as he was, Jon stepped out from behind the counter
and headed over to her side, unnoticed by the guest. Hiding his shaking hands in his pockets,
he coughed to avert her attention.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" he asked politely, praying to the Gods that he could. The
woman, reaching only to his shoulders, turned to face him, a bright smile entering her
expression. She nodded vigorously, her gaze locking with his.
"Where this?" she asked, startling him. Jon had never heard such broken Japanese,
besides the usual American tourist, although, she did look a bit foreign.
"You mean what city?" he asked, unsure of her statement. She nodded again, clasping her
hands at her chest. Words became alienated to the man as he continued to stare at the woman
before him, mesmerized by her returning stare. He had prayed that she'd live around the city,
but his hopes were destroyed by her question.
"Th-This is Tottori. Where are you headed?" Jon mentally kicked himself for his useless
stuttering, knowing that, to her, he must have sounded like an idiot. Her face, though, seemed
understanding enough... and he also sensed a bit of loneliness in her violet eyes.
Her smile weakened, but never faded. "Hiroshima. You know how far it be?"
Jon shrugged. "Oh... 100 miles maybe, give or take a few..." Shock replaced nervousness
as the woman's face fell, her expression turning from appreciation to doom and sorrow. She
looked as if she were forcing back a wall of tears that threatened to stream down her pale,
ivory cheeks. He once again felt nervous, not knowing whether to comfort her or to leave her to
her thoughts.
Making up his mind, he placed a hand lightly on her shoulder and stooped to see her eyes
once again.
"You have no way to get there, do you?" he asked, his question more of a summarization.
The lavender-headed girl shook her head pitifully, almost as if she knew he was going to offer a
lift. Sighing, a smile entering his own expression, he grabbed his jacket from behind the
counter and ushered the girl out the door.
Sniffing the air, the lead huntress could still smell the flesh of the rebel. She had
passed through the path that the seven now followed, and, seeing how fresh her scent was, it
hadn't been long ago. She smirked, silently thanking her overwhelmed sense. When she was young,
the other village children taunted her for her weird attribute. Now, she could hunt any of them
down and easily eliminate them with her bare hands. Of course, that would be unorthodox... but
one could hope, couldn't they?
*Shampoo...* She hadn't known her as a child, though they were nearly the same age.
But of course, she would also have been one of her enemies she was sure. She would have laughed
and scolded along with the other children, thinking she was any better. Now, the tables have
turned. The lead had sworn revenge. Not for any act Shampoo had committed. She had pushed her
treason aside, for it had no affect on her. She would take revenge for her childhood. She
finally had a reason to kill, and she was damned if she wouldn't take the opportunity.
A sneeze broke the silence as Shampoo rubbed her nose, surprised by her sudden allergy.
Shrugging, she continued to stare at her hands, a bit nervous and shy in the presence of such a
helpful man. She had noticed that he, too, was extremely shy, but that hadn't any affect on her
will. The Amazon was grateful, of course, her thoughts set on how she could repay him. But with
what? She hadn't any belongings of value with her... except her old dagger. She needed that,
though, in case a run in with the Hunters would come before she reached her safe destination.
Sighing, Shampoo realized that she expected a run-in.
Her thoughts jolted to reality as she noticed the man's sideways glance. Blushing, she
extended her hand for an American greeting. The man took it, none to reluctantly, and shook it
once, a smile spreading on his lips.
"You American, so Shampoo give American greeting," she murmured, her eyes settling on his
blond hair. He chuckled, knowing how she felt in the presence of a foreign.
"That I am. Shampoo, is it?" he asked, recollecting on her statement. His companion
nodded, leaning over to get a view of his nametag.
"Jon. Strange name..."
"And yours isn't?" Another chuckle escaped his mouth as the car slowed at a stop sign. Shampoo had to admit, she had never been in a vehicle before, and his car was nice for all that she knew. Shaking her head, she giggled, knowing that she preferred her bike.
"So, why are you heading to Hiroshima... if I may ask, that is...?" Shampoo giggled
again, enjoying the fact that he was as nervous as she.
"Looking for... friend," she answered, her spirits dipping. Nonetheless, she forced them
to rise back up, and to enjoy the ride. Jon nodded, glancing at her again. He could tell she
felt alone at the moment, despite his being there.
"Well, I've got some bad news," he started, changing the subject. Noticing her worried
gaze, Jon felt as if he were the biggest cad for what he had to say. Sighing, he looked to her
momentarily. "I can only take you as far as Matsue, which is about half an hour's drive from
Hiroshima. You see, my Uncle is expecting me back at work, seeing how he probably doesn't know
I'm gone yet."
Shampoo nodded, contemplating her 'pit stop.' Of course, she'd be closer to her
destination, but how long would it take for her to walk there? And how would she know which way
to go? She mentally kicked herself, realizing that she hadn't thought of that at her journey's
beginning, either. Also, how would she find him? Ask around? Would people give information to
a complete stranger?
Shampoo's thoughts once again jarred back to reality, Jon's voice sounding in her ears.
"Will you be okay?" he asked again, unsure if she heard him the first time. She had
zoned out, apparently, but nodded anyway. Momentarily satisfied, he turned his eyes back to the
road.
The drive lasted for only twenty minutes, but Shampoo felt attached to the man that had
cared so much for her well-being. As the car entered the next busy city, the Amazon woman felt
reluctant to say her goodbyes.
"Before Shampoo leave," she murmured, reaching into her small bag and pulling out the
same pad of paper and pencil that Irene had given to her from her boat ride. "Let Shampoo get
address. Want to write Jon..." Adjusting so that her knee acted as a makeshift table, she
waited for him to dictate. Jon happily gave it to her, silently ecstatic that he could keep in
touch with the Amazon beauty. Exchanging a friendly hug and goodbye, Shampoo gave her thanks and
stepped back onto the streets. She waved as Jon's car revved up its engine, then drove away in
the direction it came, unbeknownst to her that a tear had slipped down her cheek.
Trotting over to a nearby sidewalk bench, Shampoo sat and gazed around her, getting her
bearings. Another seaport resided a distance away, boats cluttering its docks and ports. The
shops, many in which were bait and tackle, lined the streets, presenting souvenirs, most of which
had something to do with the port.
"What do... what do," Shampoo wondered, her eyes scanning each miniature building. She
hadn't any money on her, which had been a stupid mistake from the beginning. But where she had
come from, money wasn't an object to be had. It simply wasn't needed. Unfortunately, it was
here.
Crossing the street over, Shampoo's eyes lit at the travel shop in her path. Her mind
set on a compass, not to mention directions in which she could ask of. A map would be useful as
well... What was she thinking? How would she pay for the items in question?
Shaking her head, Shampoo stepped into the store, the welcome bells jingling above her
head. Her eyes immediately scanned the stocked shelves, soon settling on her desired items: a
small, palm-sized compass and a folded map of both Matsue and Hiroshima.
Approaching the counter, Shampoo clutched her choice items tightly, praying for a way to
have them. She thought herself silly, seeing how such mere items could be of such value to her.
Of course, it would help her greatly, instead of her travel being delayed by the misfortune of
bad direction (her mind once again wandered to Hibiki).
"May I help you, Miss?" a tall man near the age of forty asked from behind his thick
glasses. Shampoo nodded reluctantly and stepped forward, rethinking the plan of stealing the
items. She placed them on the counter and bowed her head, her mind reeling for an idea.
"I-I no have money..." she began, running a hand through her hair. Her fingers scraped
across her jeweled barrettes that held her buns in place aside her head. Her eyes widened, her
hands clutching the decorations amid her lavender locks. Unfastening the two near her temples
and the ones at the ends of the hair that fell before her ears, she held them out to the man.
"You... want to trade?" he asked, a bit intimidated by her offer. Shampoo nodded
vigorously, gesturing to the stones.
"Very rare stones from China. Not find in Japan." Extending her hands further toward
the clerk, she dropped them into his upturned palm, nodding once again. "Shampoo's only
values... really need to purchase items..."
Eyeing them, the man shook his head. "If these are what you say they are, then they are
much more valuable then the things you want to purchase," he answered, gesturing to her compass
and map. Shampoo nodded sadly.
"Really need them, to find loved one..." she confided, bowing her head. A soft chuckle
sounded from behind her, followed by the clatter of coins hitting wood. Shampoo's eyes snapped
up, immediately focusing on the money that rested before her on the counter. She turned to face
the culprit; eager to thank whomever was so kind.
A woman, not much older than herself, stood before Shampoo, snapping her change purse
closed. She smiled politely and bowed, patting Shampoo's shoulder.
"If it's for a... emergency, I could spare. Besides, it isn't too much to lend."
Shampoo's smile widened as she bowed once again.
"Shampoo thank you so, so much!" she replied, clutching her things. Another nice
stranger had crossed her path, and the Amazon couldn't believe her luck.
After re-snapping the barrettes to hold up her buns, she stared at the last two.
They were silver bells with emerald-colored jewels atop them that, when peered into, seemed
endless. Taking the woman's hand, she placed them onto her palm instead.
"Oh, dear, the things you wanted aren't worth giving up these," the woman replied, trying
to hand them back. Shampoo closed the woman's fingers around them in return and smiled.
"They not for items. They for kindness." Bowing once more, she turned and exited the
store before the stranger was able to protest.
Trudging silently down the barren pathway, Ryoga Hibiki sighed in frustration, taking in
his surroundings. He knew for a fact that he was no longer in Nerima, nor anywhere else, for
that matter. He was certain, though, that once he reached another town or city, he'd be able to
pinpoint his location and head straight back to Nerima.
*If only it was that easy,* he scolded himself, reminding him of his second curse. He
couldn't understand how it the concept of direction was so easy for others, and be so difficult
to him. Not only that, but to live as a pig as well. To have to fear cold water, day in and day
out. Ranma's life was reasonable. At least he was human, curse or no curse. But the humility
of being half pig was overbearing.
Almost as if to punctuate his thoughts with a demonstration, the Eternally Lost Boy, as
he so hates to be titled, tripped and fell smack dab into a reasonably sized puddle. Oh, the
humanity.
Choosing to stay off the main road, clear of any passersby who could describe her to the
hunters, let alone be seen by the hunters, Shampoo followed a slightly muddied path, surrounded
by small shrubs and spindly trees. It wasn't nearly as enjoyable a route as her past ones had
been, but who was she to complain? They were merely foliage, none pf which were hers for the
taking anyway.
Spotting a clean patch of grass, mud clear of sight, Shampoo knelt down and spread out
her map. Spotting the little side trail that she was following at the moment, a smile spread
across her lips. According to the key, if she continued to follow the path, the city of
Hiroshima was only a few miles away.
Tears of joy threatened to flow as Shampoo refolded her map, hugging it to her chest.
She was only miles away from her destiny, from being in the only place she'd wanted to be in a
long time. Possibly, even her new home.
An exasperated grunt broke into Shampoo's reverie, startling her to her feet. Glancing
around, the Amazon followed the noise further down the path, pulling out the dagger strapped to
her covered ankle. Tiptoeing around a bush, she raised her arm in defense, ready to swing on any
merciless stalker. She forced herself to stop as she stared at the little piglet at her feet.
Eyeing the bandana tied around its neck, she giggled, kneeling beside it.
"Ryoga Hibiki," she murmured, re-strapping the knife around her calf. "You lost again?"
Glancing at the clothes and pack before her, she sighed, picking up the pig.
"You lucky Shampoo find you first," she muttered, sliding the pack onto her back and
gathering his clothes. "Hunters know you too. Not know what do to you."
Carrying the pig over to the spot she recently occupied, Shampoo settled the backpack
down again and placed the pig in the middle of the clothes. Reaching into her own bag, she
pulled out a small container and pulled out the cork.
"Shampoo bring warm water in case emergency," she told him, dousing him with the slightly
warm water and turning away, a blush rising to her cheeks. "You consider bring one, too."
Waiting a moment, she turned to face the man again, noticing the blush on his cheeks as well.
She giggled, knowing how fast he must have put his clothes back on.
"Th-thanks, Shampoo," he muttered, pulling his pack onto his back. A thousand questions
reeled in his mind about her being there, though he was thankful she was.
Shampoo sighed. "You want know why Shampoo here, right?" Ryoga nodded, forcing back
another blush. Giggling, Shampoo thought of how much he reminded her of Jon.
"Shampoo going to Hiroshima... you no where near Nerima," she added as an afterthought. Ryoga frowned, getting to his feet.
"Where are we at, anyway?" he questioned, praying that she'd know, at least. The Amazon
smiled kindly.
"Matsue, near Hiroshima city limit. Nerima faaaaaaaaaar away," she demonstrated with her
hands. Ryoga sighed heavily, running a hand through his thick mane of hair.
"Nothing seems to go right... Hey, are you looking for... uh..." The man cursed his
stuttering, but refused to bring any bad feelings into the... 'conversation.' Shampoo nodded her
head.
"You know where he live, exactly?" she asked, hope rising in her voice. Ryoga looked
thoughtful for a moment, and then grinned.
"Got a piece of paper?"
Shampoo smiled widely, tucking the piece of paper safely into her hip bag. Ryoga had
given her the address that she had pined for, and everything was set. In return, she had given
him her compass, hoping that he'd find his way back to the Tendo's. She had also given him
directions to the store Jon worked at for two reasons: a map, and to give Jon her greetings.
She told him to keep heading in the opposite direction, north, praying that the compass would
bring him to the city of Tottori. Although she knew that the only reason the pig-boy was heading
back to Nerima was to break up Akane and Ranma's relationship, Shampoo couldn't bring down his
spirits. He was depressed enough as it is, and the Amazon knew that seeing Akane would make him
happy.
Pushing that to the back of her mind, Shampoo continued jogging in the direction the path
lead, knowing that it would end in less than a mile. She'd be happy in less than a mile.
"We're close."
"What do we do with the rebel once we capture her, Liege?"
"The village wants her."
"What will they do to her, Liege?"
"You know her sentence, so why must you bombard me with your useless questions?"
The Hunters discontinued their chat with the leader, heads fuming from her arrogance.
They had tired quickly of her leadership, and they were eager to finish their mission and be rid
of the monster known as their 'liege.' And what was worse was that she demanded that Japanese
was used while addressing her.
"She seems mighty knavish today, doesn't she?" Li asked her comrade in her native tongue
of Chinese. Shin nodded her head, slowing her pace a step to continue her conversation.
"A bit angry with the rebel, is she?" Shin asked, scratching the back of her head.
Covering her mouth to keep quiet, Li nodded.
"I heard she's going to make X'ian Pu suffer... I don't believe we'll be taking her back
to the village alive, despite what our Liege says."
"To Hell with 'Liege,'" Shin retorted. "What makes Kye so important that she was made
our leader? You or I could've done nicely!"
Li shushed her comrade, nudging her shoulder. "If she hears you, she'll rip you to
pieces." The two giggled, each comparing Kye to a dog.
"Shall we offer her a bone?"
Another city... yet it wasn't a loss at all. Neither was it a stepping-stone to her
destination. A smile lit up Shampoo's face. It was more like... home.
She had wandered down the street's sidewalks for no less than five minutes, taking in the
sights and people, before the Amazon felt impatient. She had scolded herself for dawdling,
seeing how much she had whined and prayed to get there. Sightseeing could wait until later.
Pulling out her map once again, Shampoo stepped aside out of the flow of people, folding
the page back so it only showed Hiroshima. Plucking the directions Ryoga had given her from her
tote bag as well, she searched for the street name on the map.
*Aysure Street... * she thought, glancing at the road signs, then back to the map. *Only
few blocks from here...* Snapping her head up, Shampoo hurried past the corner and down the side
walk, her quickened pace turning into a jog. She wasn't surprised at how determined she was,
seeing how much she yearned for a home... as well as a friend.
Humming a light tune, Amy walked out onto her front porch, grinning up at the warm globe
of a sun. As mushy as any, she loved to spend her mornings, as well as evenings, on her front
porch, relaxing before any work would have to be started... or ended, for that matter. The small
house, tucked in the neck of the woods, at least a mile away from any neighbors, had turned out
to be her dream, though it came at a price. When she had moved to Japan from the U.S., all she
had wanted to do was find something that wasn't so... foreign. So, easing her needs, she and her
significant other had bought the Americanized home, making the two of them happy for what it was
worth. Amy never knew if her fiancé actually liked any of the American customs, or even their
way of living, but he so generously contributed for what she wanted...
Leaning on the banister that surrounded the porch, the blond scanned the acres, searching
for any wildlife. She knew that her parents put in most of the money for the house, as she was a
descendent of a wealthy line of stockowners. They'd do anything to please their baby. And she
had insisted on a place where deer and any other little creatures would wander straight up to the
house. She snarled. They hadn't done such a great job.
Eyebrows rising, Amy straightened up, craning her neck. A woman... with extremely purple
hair.... was approaching her house.
"Another salesperson," she muttered, crossing her arms and frowning spitefully. "I don't
think so... I thought I told daddy to keep my address unlisted!"
Amy's expression tensed as the woman came to a stop before her, a small, confused smile
donning her face. She wore a traditional Chinese ensemble: high-collared shirt that ended at the
hips, and slightly loose pants that ended just below her knees. Her hair was what astonished Amy
the most, being such a vibrant shade of lavender, in such and unusual style. She shrugged.
*Typical foreign monsters,* she scolded, standing at the top of the steps. The woman
continued to fidget, twisting her fingers together at the foot of the stairs.
"Well," Amy urged, tapping her foot. "What do you want?" The woman bowed, a polite
smile plastered on her face.
"I X'ian Pu. Is Mu Tsu here?"
Wriggling in her seat, Shampoo insistently tried to adjust her bottom in the awkward seat
in front of a rather high table. She had been surprised when the woman present in her friend's
house had offered her a chair, and, being polite, she had taken her seat. Of course, she
wondered why they just didn't find a shorter table and kneel beside it, but she had shrugged it
off, accepting the stranger's customs.
"So," Amy began, pouring her a cup of tea. "You sure you're not a salesman, or
something?" Shampoo shook her head, giggling.
"No, I friend of Mu Tsu's," she reassured, gratefully taking the cup. Amy faked a smile
and poured a cup for herself.
"A question, though..." she continued, sipping her tea. "Why do you call him Moo Tsoo,
or whatever? And you've, no offense, got the strangest name!"
Another smile plastered Shampoo's face as she took a sip of her own tea. "They Chinese
names. Real names. Japanese name be Shampoo."
"Oh!" Amy squealed, clapping her hands. "Like the hair product! Just like Mousse!
How... cute..." Shampoo giggled at her outburst, a thousand questions reeling through her mind.
"Anyway..." Amy continued, clearing her throat. "How do you know my Mousse?"
Shampoo's body went frigid at the strange woman's statement, her eyes glossing over. Had
she said, 'My Mousse?' Why would she say such a thing? Another question popped into her mind.
Why exactly was she staying in the same... strange house with him? She pushed the last, haunting
question to the back of her mind.
Offering a weak smile, Shampoo answered. "We childhood friends, is all..." Amy frowned
viciously at the visitor.
"Is all?"
Another long day of work had come to an end, and Mousse was extremely relieved to be on
his way home. The cab-drive, though reasonably lengthy, didn't irritate him as much as it
usually did. He had grown accustomed to the American ways that the city had adopted; he even
accepted it in his own home. If it made his fiancé happy, then of course he'd falter to her
wishes. Many a time he had scolded himself to being so soft in the face of pressure. It only
reminded him of his life in Nerima. He'd never really been happy there, he was sure. But what
was in the past couldn't haunt him forever, right?
Oh, the humanity of his consumption.
At last, the cab pulled into his driveway, and Mousse reluctantly paid him his overly
high fee. Slamming the door, he ignored the angry scowls from the man for his lack of tip and
began up to the front door. He was surprised to see that his Amy hadn't been waiting for him,
but shrugged it off. Though she stood on that porch daily, expecting him home from his work, he
guessed he must have taken the small notion for granted.
Stepping inside, he removed his shoes, remembering Amy's rant the week before of her
little pet peeve. It had made him laugh, as she had pouted consistently afterwards of his poking
fun.
"Mousse!" Amy's voice greeted him from the other room, causing him to grin. She was
home. Her head poked from around the corner, her expression forcing Mousse's smile away. She
seemed overly irritated, a slight frown plastered on her face.
"You have a guest, hon," she continued, leaning against the wall. He gave her a
questioning look, and she shrugged. "It has nothing to do with me..."
Sighing inwardly, Mousse followed her into the dining room, worriedly focusing ahead of
her. Whoever the 'guest' was, Amy certainly hadn't liked from the start. Had it been because of
him, he didn't know.
Stepping into the dining room, Amy held out her arm towards Shampoo, as if introducing
her as an unwanted prize.
"Your visitor," she stated, unemotionally. Whipping her head up, Shampoo stood, smiling
from ear to ear. Uninvited, she rushed forward and glomped onto him, surprising the two
residents.
"Sh-Shampoo?" Mousse stuttered, placing his hands on her shoulders. The Amazon pulled
back, her smile widening.
"Nihao, Mu Tsu!"
A headache was forming in the back of Mousse's head after he joined the two at the dining
table. He was surprised, of course, to see his former obsession in his house, but he hadn't any
idea how to cope with it. Amy was evidently angry, as her face had turned red when the Amazon
had hugged him. And that was another story. Shampoo had willingly hugged him as she had done to
Ranma countless times before. Matter-of-factly, it confused him even more.
Clearing his throat quietly, he turned to his guest. "Uh... so... how'd you find me?"
Shampoo grinned, a giggle bubbling up from her throat. "Hibiki give address on way, but
Ranma tell where you were." She sighed. "I come visit... is okay?"
Mousse chuckled. "Sure its okay... you haven't been brushing up on your Japanese lately,
have you?"
Groaning, Amy crossed her arms and leaned her elbows on the table. "Miss Shampoo, why
are you here really?"
Staring blankly at the questioning American, Shampoo fell silent. She couldn't admit the
real reason why she had come, not knowing that her... friend was living with a woman whom he
introduced as his fiancé. To top that, Amy obviously disliked her. What was the next best
truth?
"... Shampoo running from Amazon Hunters. Shampoo finally sentenced."
Amy gasped. "We have a fugitive criminal in our house! Oh, good Lord..."
"Calm down, Amy," Mousse intervened, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Go ahead and
explain, Shampoo."
Writhing her fingers together sheepishly, Shampoo blushed. "Shampoo Amazon who didn't
complete mission of marrying... someone... so now Shampoo sentenced for punishment... not real
crime..."
Amy looked thoughtfully at the younger girl, studying her for what she was worth.
"What're they gonna do? What's your sentence?"
Fighting back tears of shame, Shampoo shook her head. "Shampoo not want to talk about
it."
Bowing his head, Mousse sighed harshly, resting his forehead in his hand. He knew her
sentence by the way she showed herself. Even though the way she acted surprised him, she held
back, not having enough vigor as she used to. She was obviously scared... but who would blame
her? She'd be killed, and her honor wouldn't deprive her of her fated death. She'd go through
with it, but for some odd reason, she had decided to find him before giving in to her prescribed
destiny.
Meanwhile, having forced the begun conversation to the deepest part of her mind, Shampoo
was marveling at how much her friend had changed. He had gotten taller, as one would see, and
held his hair back in a low ponytail. Minor changes, they were, but what surprised her most were
his glasses. He wasn't wearing any. She fought back the urge to ask about them, knowing that
the question would most likely seem impolite. But it bugged her. He wasn't the same. Also, he
seemed calm, and somewhat collected. She knew that he had given up on her a while back, but
then, she had yet to see it. Her suspicions were correct. He had moved on.
Kindly, seeing her condition, the two had allowed her to stay as long as she liked. She
had her own room upstairs that was nicely, but sparingly, furnished. Shampoo hadn't anything
against Amy, except for the fact that she was engaged to the certain someone. What annoyed the
Amazon was the fact that Amy clung to Mousse whenever Shampoo entered a room, and would usually
answer her questions, though they were directed to him. Worse off, he didn't mind. He only
smiled.
The night had gone all right, though it was hard for Shampoo to fall asleep. She
laughed. Sleep was impossible with so many things hunting you down. The Hunters as well as your
conscience. She knew that she had gotten basically what she had wanted for so long. A chance to
make amends with the people closest to her. Yet, she also knew why she was so unsatisfied with
herself. Meeting Amy was like a repetitive dream coming true, and learning of her engagement
turned that dream into a nightmare.
Switching on the small lamp that sat beside his futon, Mousse adjusted himself to a
sitting position, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He could hear the light snoring of his fiancé in the
room beside his, where she lay in that 'bed' of hers that she insisted upon having. He sighed.
Once they were married, he'd say goodbye to his futon. Chuckling, he realized that it wouldn't
be too fond of a farewell.
Once they were married.
Yawning, he stretched, cursing himself for his insomnia. It had hit him the night
Shampoo had arrived, a few days back. He had sat up, despite his constant yawning, and conversed
with his thoughts, which were indisputably about the Amazon down the hall. He'd debated
constantly with himself about her staying in his home, but always, he came to an agreement that
she had every right to stay... or he had no right to make her leave.
*But why did she change so much?* he asked himself, running a hand through his now loose
hair. What had happened between her and Ranma must have been rough enough to change her whole
perspective. So many things were ominous about her new 'self.' She was definitely meeker than
she'd ever been in her life. She was quiet and polite, which, for her, was completely out of
character. Yes, the Hunters were after her, but why would that make her change? If she were
still in her 'Nerima perspective,' she would have lived life to the fullest and tied herself to
the pigtailed boy until her fate was brought to reality.
*That's not what scares you the most, is it?* Mousse scolded himself, sighing heavily.
It wasn't. What had scared him the most about her reform was him. She had voluntarily hugged
him. She had wanted to be in the same room as him... She had come all the way from China looking
for him. All he could ask was 'Why?' No more than half of a year ago, she had despised him and
denied friendship or contact with him. Now, she had obviously thought it necessary to be with
him before her... He couldn't think of it. It did hurt to know what would become of her. What
hurt most was that there was nothing he could do to help her.
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