gosenkugi@aol.com (GOSENKUGI) AUTHOR'S FOREWORD My name is Dion Starfire and I've been a fan of RANMA 1 / 2 for a about a year now. So I decided like so many other fans to write a fanfic about the characters. And since I came into the fanfic business a bit late I couldn't post it, until now. This is the first part of four I have the first three done and will post them a week apart as for the last one I hope to be finished by the end of September. My favorite characters happen to be the unnoticed characters like Mousse, so this story happens to focus on him. Like others fanzines I have taken some liberties with the characters and I hope not to offend anyone in the process of doing so, or make the story detrimental to the original characters. If I do you and you have flames you want to express; you can write to me at my E-mail address. Or if you do like it and would like me to keep sending you my stories you can also write to my E-mail. Hope you like it! Dion Starfire INTRODUCTION "Oh man! What a day! First day back and already that dried-up mummy put me through the ringer. I wonder what her problem is? It was just a normal day at the cafe. Do you know why she has been acting like that lately, Shampoo?", I asked Shampoo as we closed for the Neko-haten for the night. ">>No, Mousse, I don't know why grandmother was behaving so badly today.<<", she said . (Just so we have everything straight words between >>and<< are in chinese and <> thoughts. D.S.) "She must have hit me twenty times today. And I wasn't do anything wrong at all." "Maybe that why hit you, Mousse! You complain too much!" "I'm not complaining! I'm just curious that's all! And besides, I'm getting used to that stick. It's been against my skull somany times I can't recall." I said with a chuckle. As I finished up with the register, I turned around to hear a hammer say... "Will this do Mousse?" The hammer then proceeded to hit me several times on the my head. "Used to it?", Cologne said to me mocking me as I got up off the ground. "Are you done with the register yet? I need to go make the deposit." "Yes, here it is. ....H-Hey, Shampoo I have reserved tickets to go see the new Maison Ikkuko movie. Would you like to come with me?" I shouldn't have ever spoken those words; the mood in the cafe went from pleasant to deadly. It seemed to me that Shampoo's eyes had a direct affect to the light in the cafe and the weather outside; for it ceased to be a delightful autumn night for me. The whole world had just turned into a wintry nightmare for me. She never acted this way before; her usually pleasant demeanor changed into something akin to the unholy. The glint in her eye was speaking a mix of vengeance, pity, anger, and stubbornness. Any sign that she was once relaxed was gone, by looking at her now, one would think that she was getting ready to battle hell itself and that I was the caretaker. Now I, have rarely seen Shampoo get this upset about ANYTHING, let alone me asking her out. Never the less, I would have to say, for the first time in my life I was afraid of Shampoo. "You, ...STUBBORN BOY! What make you think I want go out with YOU. When get through thick, skull. I NO WANT YOU!!!! " I couldn't hear the rest. It was drowned out by the pain. She didn't hit me this time like she usually does, she didn't need to, though I heard her say that phrase millions of times, each word was like a blow to the body. With every syllable she uttered she made a scar. A cut of a thousand swords would have been less painful. After she was done torturing me, Shampoo finished her chores without a word leaving me there to rot and fester in my pain. After witnessing the incident, Cologne later that night went to Shampoo's room to talk to her granddaughter. She opens the door to find Shampoo looking at an old picture of her and Mousse. She lets out a small, sad sigh. "How old were you in that picture", Cologne asks? "We both fifteen. Just before meet Ranma. " explains Shampoo handing over the picture to Cologne. "Why is Mousse's back toward the camera? "He no wearing glasses. Says he look better with them off. Shampoo no think so." "Well you may not think so. But I remember a time when a certain girl was chasing him. Just because he bumped into her and she passed out because his eyes were _so beautiful_." "He get Rinse to chase him on purpose to make Shampoo jealous!", Shampoo said with an angry tone in her voice. Angry at Mousse for loosing his glasses and partly because she was jealous. "Did it work?" "NO! Shampoo care less who stupid duck go out with!" "Oh.... Why do you think he's never _really_ challenged you all these years?" Cologne asked inquizivily trying to decern Shampoo's true feelings for Mousse. Contrary to popular opinion Cologne really didn't care about the law, she just wanted to make sure her grand-daughter was happy. For a moment she gets a hurt look on her face, but only for a moment, that's erased and is replaced by a face that sort of resembled Cologne. "Cause he say thousand of times he love me but no hurt me. As if ever happen." "Then why do you still keep this picture?" "'Cause it good picture of me!", Shampoo says defensively. With that question Shampoo starts wondering what her grandmother wants. "Why you here?" "What, do I need a reason to see my granddaughter?" Seeing that Shampoo wasn't buying the line she decided the direct appoarch would be nice for a change. "I think we need to talk about Mousse." "Then is waste of time! No talk about him!" "Why did you have to be so hard on him today? He is my only other employee at the cafe other than you. And despite what I may say at times he really is a good worker. It would put more of a strain on our resources if he left. With you and Mousse going to college I had to hire ten people to take your places. And they still can't keep up. The only time we really make a profit is when your both home." "I just tired of saying no all time, Great-Grandmother. I want him stop. I no love him. I love Ranma. Mousse only friend." "But aren't you going a little bit too far. You keep saying no like that and he'll come to hate you. Mousse is most dangerous when he's mad, we don't want him as an enemy. We have enough problems with Ranma." Shampoo picks up the picture of her and Mousse then looks at the picture of Ranma. "I no care. I wish he leave for good!" With that she throws the picture of Mousse into the garbage. STUDIO FAN PRESENTS RANMA 1 / 2 : A MOUSSE SPURNED A FANFICTION By Dion Starfire I was in my room exercising trying to make my pain, my sadness go away. But it just wouldn't, it just stayed there, it hung in the air like an anvil ready to drop on my head; the minute I stopped. After three hours of the most intense practice of my life I didn't have the strength left to fight anymore and so I let the anvil drop. My tears were no comfort as the pain enveloped me. "Why must I be plagued by this curse. Why am I in love with a woman who only gives me heartache and grief. I just can't understand! Why did she act like that when I asked? It wasn't like it was anything new. I just asked her out. Does she hate me?" My heartache only grew stronger with each moment that passed. It soon turned two o'clock and my sadness gave way to anger. "She didn't have to be that way. All I asked her to do was go on a stupid date. IT'S NOT AS IF I ASKED HER TO MARRY ME! ...Why am I getting so upset? I mean it's only Shampoo." The shock of what I just said pushed all the anger and frustration out of my mind. "I don't believe I said that! What's coming over me!? I sound like Ranma. In all my life, I've never thought of anybody but Shampoo. Now all I want to do is get away from her and this cafe. Wait a minute! What am I thinking? I can't just leave without saying good-bye or; a chance for her either to say she's sorry or that she loves me. Yeah, tomorrow will be the deciding day for Shampoo and me. I just hope all my love won't be in vain." As I do my nightly routine of bumping into furniture on the way to bed. I catch a brief glimpse of Shampoo. I rushed toward her only to bruised my nose on what turns out to be the lamp at the side of my bed. As I lied awake in my bed , I ask her the same question every night that I am not willing to ask for fear of the answer. "Shampoo. Why don't you love me?" AUTHOR'S AFTERWORD Dion here. I know this is a little grim and has few, if any, funny parts but after sixteen years of rejection I think Mousse would be a little bitter don't you. Anyway this is my first fan-fic and it IS going to get funnier so don't think that your not going to any laughs that would not be fair to you or to Rumiko Takahasi. Anyway, I told you I would give you my E-mail number so here it is. Gosenkugi@aol.com. Chapter 2 will be posted next week. I also have a Ranma 1/2 story I'm working on called Kumite. A sudden inspiration while watching "Bloodsport." Well my otaku friends I'm looking forward to your comments EVEN your flames. So PLEASE send comments I'm a writer and would like some feedback. Yours in insanity, or sanity depends on your point of view. Dion Starfire Dion Starfire AUTHOR'S FOREWORD Hello R.A.A.C.! Dion Starfire with another installment of A Mousse Spurned. So far no flames have come in, which is good, just some comments about grammar and puctuation. Which I'm trying to rectify so please notify me of anything I may get wrong. Well enough of me gabbing. Enjoy the story! Oh! I have to give props up to me editor Ryoma without him it wouldn't be as good as it is. Yours in insanity or sanity, depends on your point or view. Dion Starfire STUDIO FAN PRESENTS RANMA 1/2: A MOUSSE SPURNED Written by Dion Starfire CHAPTER TWO - THE REASON?!?!?!? I woke up at the usual time but not in the usual place. I found myself not in the makeshift room that was my apartment but in a sleeping bag instead. I looked around and discovered that I was in a forest. The grass was moist with freshly laid dew, and when I took in it's sweet fragrance, I knew at once where I was. (Why am I at Mt. Quanjing? Am I dreaming? I probably am... but it feels so real! ) Despite my confusion about how I got there, I found that my body, after a fit-full sleep, was starting to relax and all of the tension was leaving. (Well, if this is a dream, I have to thank myself in the morning for dreaming this.) I laid back and soaked up the surroundings like I always had. The cool breeze that came off of the mountain caressed my tired body. The sunrise glistening over the mountain gave comfort to my soul. The sights and sounds of the majestic woods encompassed me, . . . held me like I wished Shampoo would, with love. (If there was one thing I needed right now. It was this.) Then it happened, I heard a voice, a voice I haven't heard in a long time. "If there was one thing I needed right now... it was this. Thank you, Sifu." I came to look upon a young boy and his master sitting around a campfire cooking breakfast. He was trying to get used to the feel of new glasses that he was wearing. The young boy was about three years old, but if one looked into his eyes they would see his soul was hurt, a hurt that one so young shouldn't have to face. It's a kind of pain that a person would have if their fiancee walked out on their wedding. The master was Spray; a kindly old sort who took pride in the fact that he cared about his pupils and took steps to make sure his students were okay. He always worried about this boy in particular. Always acting like an adult never like a child. Seeing in him the potential for great things and in that potential a great wisdom and a gentleness of the soul that is so rarely seen. The boy had just suffered a blow to his heart that seemed to be eating away at his soul. The pain wouldn't go away for a long time. His sifu knew that, and was trying to speed up the healing of a broken heart before it was too late. "You're welcome, Mousse." "Why did we come here, Sifu?" "Well...I thought we could use a vacation and this was the perfect place." Spray said evasively. "If we're on vacation, why do we have our training gear?" "Heh heh heh...ah, Mousse, why do you have to act so old? Well, the real reason we came out here is because I thought you needed time to heal." "Heal?" "Yes, heal. I overheard your conversation with your girlfriend." A look of sadness came over the child's face. "Shampoo is _not_ my girlfriend. When I told her I loved her and wanted to marry her I thought she would be happy." The child tried to find the words that would express what he was feeling. << This is the first time I came to Mt. Quanjing, but I never spoken like that when I was three. Must be my mind talking?>> "...But" "But when I came near her she acted as if I didn't exist. I thought she was playing so I played along. I introduced myself and said she was the most beautiful thing on this earth. Then she went into a battle stance and said 'I'm ready for the challenge'." "So she thought it was a challenge for her hand in marriage. Well? Did you fight her?" "You heard what happened! You tell me." The child said angrily. "I think it would be better if you told me." Spray said soothingly. With a stubborn look on his face he asked "Why?" "Because it'll help you get over the pain if you talk about it." "It will?" he asked his teacher/father with tears in his eyes. "Trust me." "I said that I didn't want to hurt her. So I wasn't going to fight her. And then she blew up at me. All I said was that I love her and I never want to harm her. She said she hated me and that the only way she'll ever marry me is if I beat her in combat. Then she beat me up. I didn't protect myself so I got the crap beat out of me. If I defeat her, but don't have her love, then what is the sense in marrying her? I'll never get her heart that way." "But Mousse we're part of an amazon village. That's our code, our life, and our law. If you really want to marry Shampoo you'll probably have to fight her." "I won't fight her. I'll get her by love or nothing else." There was a slight pause as if he was thinking to himself. "But the thing I don't get is Shampoo and I spoke about getting married and about her love for me " There is a brief heart-renching moment showing me talking to a duck. (I WAS TALKING TO A DUCK!!! OH, HOW POETIC!) I though dripping with sarcasm. "We had such a good year together. I can't imagine what went wrong. Why doesn't she love me?" With that the child started to cry. "I wouldn't let it bother you that much Mousse. It's just probably a boy-hating phase the girl is going through. She'll get over it." (But she didn't get over it. She still hates me.) "Shampoo doesn't hate you, Mousse. She loves you." "Master?" It was me speaking now, not the child-me. "Yes, I can see and hear you. You're even letting me hear your thoughts and you don't need to call me master. You're twenty; you're a man now, call me Spray." "If she loves me, Master...why? Why does she keep rejecting me?!" "You know the answer and don't call me master." Spray swing his arm and I got hit by a mace. "OUCH!! No, I don't! Otherwise, I would have fixed the problem a long time ago!" "Yes you do. But I can't give it to you. You have to figure it out for yourself." With that a mist came from the mountain and covered the forest. It enveloped everything in its path the trees, the animals, and the campsite. No one seemed to notice or care. No one except me. I was running away from the mist as fast as my feet could carry me. "Why are you running? You can't run away Mousse." Spray said. I was running out of fear. I wanted to find out the answer...I needed to find out...but I was too afraid of the answer. I tried to dive in a pool of water so I could fly away but instead of changing into a duck, I tripped over a familiar walking stick and fell on my face. "Oh! I'm sorry Mousse. I didn't mean to leave my walking stick there." "It's okay Cologne. I didn't see it." I said a bit flustered and confused. "Still trying to get used to those glasses I see." "Yeah . . . I hate them though. They make me look like a geek." "No they don't. I know, why don't we ask Shampoo? SHAAMMPPOO." Cologne called. "I'll be right down." came the answer. A few minutes later. Shampoo comes down the stairs into the kitchen with a smile. One look at me was all she needed to change her mood from happy to disappointment. "Shampoo, doesn't Mousse look fine with his glasses?" asked Cologne. "He looks ok to me." "See Mousse what did I tell you? Mousse? Mousse?! No! That's a... " !!CRASH !! "AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" "...skillet." Cologne quickly puts my burnt hand under running water. "What were you just thinking?" asked Cologne angrily. "I wanted to thank Shampoo for what she said." With a quirky little smile she asked, "And just how were you going to ask her?" With that comment I blushed uncontrollably and Cologne laughed heartily. The scene changed again and I found myself outside the house and fifteen again. This time I saw myself walking away, looking bruised and battered in the heart and body. "Get out of here Mousse! I don't want you." Shampoo yelled with venom coming out in her voice. My eyes came to rest upon Shampoo's heaving frame. A tear welled up in her eye and I realized her body wasn't heaving, it was shaking. I was shocked; I had never known Shampoo to cry about anything let alone myself. I went to comfort her then. "Why should you cry over that weakling, Shampoo?" Cologne asked with a disapproving tone. Startled by her grandmother's sudden appearance, and angered at her constant interference when it came to me, she replied, "Not that it's any of your business. I HATE HURTING HIM!" With that she jumps to the rooftop and the goes into the jungle. (Damn, that didn't work at all!), Cologne thought. I started to go after Shampoo but I was hit by another rejection then another then another until I was screaming from the pain from all the rejections I had lived through. Then I saw all the opportunities I had passed up in my life when I was chasing Shampoo. It was too much for me to take; I collapsed into a ball and started to scream. I laid there for what seemed like an eternity when my Sifu came up to me. "It's time to go Mousse." "Go? Go where?" "Home, Mousse, it's time for you to go home." "I'll gladly leave but I don't know of a way to get out of hell." "Just get up and ride on top of me." With that I looked up at my Sifu to see him change from a man to a gigantic swan. The swan took off with me riding it. As it was flying the swan looked backed and asked "So was all this enough to get you to give up yet?" With all that I have seen in the last couple hours I could only remember the phrase ''Ihate hurting him!". "No, it wasn't." I didn't see it but there was a big, knowing smile on the swan's face. "Oh well! I tried to show you. Your love for that girl will be the death of you." I was oblivious to everything all I could remember was the tear that was forming and the look of care and hurt that was on her face. "Well if that's my destiny, I'll gladly accept it." "Here's where you get off. Bye Mousse, I hope you find what your looking for." The swan dumped me over the Nekohanten. Just before hitting the ceiling I woke up in a cold sweat and my heart was racing. I looked around my room and saw that I was still in bed. "Phew! It was just a dream." Just as I said that I saw a huge swan hovering near my window. The shock was too much for me and I passed out. Author's Afterword Dion here again. I hope you got the reason if not, write me and I'll explain. Ok, the past two chapters were a preparation for the rest of the story. The next chapter will be a-lot more of what we all know and love, so please keep writing. Anyway, here's my E-mail address . And please don't ask for my real name your not going to get it. Gosenkugi@.aol.com. Chapter 3 comes out next week! My Kumite story is dead right now and won't come out until this is done, so stop writing me about it. Well my otaku friends I'm looking forward to your comments, EVEN your flames. Yours in insanity or sanity, depends on your point of view. Dion Starfire Dion Starfire Hi! It's me again, Dion Starfire with another installment of A MOUSSE SPURNED. It took me a month to write this chapter and thank god! I think this turned out to be some of my best writing. I ended up rewriting it five times though and the last time I wrote it in third person. The reason being is I couldn't express other character's feelings accurately through Mousse. I'm glad I redid this chapter though, it wouldn't have been as long as it is. It started to be nine pages but after the rewrites it grew into twenty or so pages. I hope you likeit. So as always I'd like to say a few words to my readers. For all those who preread the last chapter and replied WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!?! Thank you; it shows me that my work is being enjoyed. I appreciate all the letters I've been getting. I know I started this series with a serious tone to it and it'll always have a serious tone so get used to it. However, it'll have its funny parts, so don't get all gloomy on me, okay? So, without further eloquence, here is chapter three of A MOUSSE SPURNED. Enjoy! Wait, I just realized something it's too long for my newsgroup program. So I'm posting it in parts. I don't howmany it will be so please be patient. Thank you! Yours in insanity, or sanity, depends on your point of view. Dion Starfire (D.S.) P.S. If anyone can translate the title into Japanese. Please write me. Arigato. P.P.S. I almost forgot to tell you I didn't like the way I did the Chinese translations in the first two chapters so when Chinese is spoken it will be between *and* and thoughts will be in (and). STUDIO FAN PRESENTS A MOUSSE SPURNED A fanfiction by Dion Starfire All copyrights belong to Rumiko Takahasi and Viz Distributing Co. CHAPTER 3 - GOODBYE, I HAVE A DATE. PART 1 *Mousse! Are you up there?* Mousse woke up to a loud banging coming from the hatch to his apartment. *Yes! Who is it?* *Shampoo!* *What is it, my love?* Mousse said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. *Don't call me that. Are you ever going to get up? I've been calling you for the last hour.* (For the last hour? How long was I out? That dream! That was a dream, wasn't it?) *What time is it?* He asked as Shampoo came up through the hatch into his room. *It's eight. We got to get ready for the morning customers. * She walked over to his bed, sat dangerously close to Mousse, and started to play with his covers in suggestive ways. Almost making his nose bleed in the process. (GULP!) *I'll be down after my morning practice,* he replied nervously, trying not to stare at Shampoo. She stopped playing with the covers much to Mousse's relief, but then she tried to pull them off him. *Get up.* With that she yanked the covers out of his hand forcing Mousse to pull out a dressing screen to put between them. However, he placed the screen in front of the potted plant he had walked into the night before. She tapped him on his shoulder; surprised, Mousse jumped around to see Shampoo giving him one of her heart-melting smiles. "Here are glasses," she said giving him a smile that you could only call as mischievous. Mousse snatched his glasses from Shampoo, jumped over the screen and screamed, "What are you doing?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" "Playing," Shampoo said. (Mousse, you're too easy to tease.), she thought stifling a giggle in the process. "I knew you loved me, Shampoo," he said excitedly! Mousse ran out from behind the screen in a bathrobe to give Shampoo a hug, only to have a bonburi introduced to his face. "No. I just want you hurry. No want to do work alone." "I said I'd help after practice!", he retorted as he picked himself off the floor. "Don't know why you practice. It no help you beat Ranma. It all right. Still, come out of paycheck." "Paycheck? Oh, you mean the slave wage O-baba* calls a salary," Mousse said venomously, "I'm lucky I can go to college, and I don't see the point of fighting Ranma. Even if I won... " * "Hah" "(Sigh)... Even if I won, I still wouldn't have your love." "You never have love. You weak and lazy fighter. You never beat me. You never beat Ranma. No women ever want you. You die alone and Shampoo be with Ranma." Although Shampoo's comments had hurt, Mousse couldn't help laughing at what she said. He laughed for ten minutes before Shampoo said anything. "WH..... W... Why you laughing? .......Stupid Mousse!", she said fearfully thinking that she finally pushed him over the edge. When Mousse looked up at her, Shampoo distorted her beautiful face into a confused frown, he laughed even more. "I'm...HAHAHA... a.... HAHAHA... lazy fighter! HAHAHAHA... Oh... Shampoo... heh... thanks. I needed a laugh. I really did. OH... that was sweet. You know, I'm not the one who's lazy." He looked at her with a chuckling smile. Shampoo's frown turned from confused to angry. "What you mean?!" "Oh nothing, just don't be too confident, Shampoo, I just might surprise you someday." Shampoo started to emit her battle aura, it got to full power very quickly. "YOU STUPID TO MAKE FUN AND CHALLENGE AT SAME TIME, MOUSSE!!!!!!" "Who said I was challenging you?" Mousse said matter-of-factly trying not to laugh. Shampoo's aura died abruptly with what he said. There was a palpable pause between them that seemed to go on forever. Shampoo was just staring at him the whole time, her face was struggling with confusion over feelings she rather not deal with when it came to Mousse. She thought Mousse as only a friend, but every once and awhile, she got confused as a warm feeling in her heart tended to resurface every time Mousse did something for her that she couldn't ignore. The last time she felt that was when Mousse saved her from the bird man.* "You make Shampoo mad." With that she brought up her mace and slammed it into his head, knocking him into a wall. She started down the hatch when Mousse asked her from the wall, "How does it feel to hit someone you love, Shampoo?" * She stopped to look up at him, her face betrayed no emotions, and said, "I no love you, Mousse." After she left, he fell from the wall with a sob, "I'm sorry Shampoo? But why do you hide? Why won't you admit your true feelings?" As Shampoo closed the hatch she had to steady herself when she heard Mousse say through his sobs, 'Why do you hide?' Walking back to the kitchen she looked toward Mousse's room she remembered both questions that he asked her. "You've always been my best friend and it does hurt Mousse. It hurts a-lot but ...I ...I don't .... love... you..." Mousse waited until he was sure he wouldn't run into Shampoo during his mourning routine. He was waiting tables that day; so he decided to wear a light blue dress shirt with a black tie and a pair of gray slacks. He pulled his hair back into a ponytail so it wouldn't get into the customer's food. His clothes looked form-fitting but for anybody who knew Mousse would know otherwise. He wasn't wearing his regular robes, so he decided not to wear all his weapons 'cause it would take too long to transfer them, five hours to be exact. He left through the skylight Akane had so graciously provided him last summer. He landed on a balance beam in the back of the Neko-hanten. Mousse built it from scraps of wood that came from tables that Shampoo broke over his head. Mousse put his hand to his head and smiles. (Chuckle and Ranma thinks it only happens to him.) He walked the path dodging the various traps that Shampoo had set along the way. The beam lead him to a crudely built shack. There was one continuous tension wire holding together the various pieces of wood that made up the shack. He went into the shack and proceeded to do a kata which ended with a flurry of punches and kicks ending in a crane stance. At the end of the exercise every piece of wood had either a knife, throwing star, an ax, mace, yo-yo---- stuck through it. There was even a Ranma doll stuck through one board. "Not bad." Shampoo said involuntary. Surprised, Mousse turned around to see an inquisitive Shampoo. "Shampoo, you were watching?" "Yes, I want see if you get caught by traps." He noticed her hiding a stopwatch behind her. "So, how fast was I." Mousse asked as he pointed to the stopwatch. Embarrassed, Shampoo pulled the stopwatch out, looked at it, went to tell Mousse then did a double take. "Three point two seconds!!!!? You... faster...almost... fast as Ranma." A large, clear, sweat bead formed on the back of her head as she looked at a smiling Mousse. "It's kinda hard not to get faster when your racing Ranma to the cafeteria.", Mousse said enjoying the amazed look on Shampoo's face. "Luckily for me Ukyo transferred there otherwise I'd starve." "....Ukyo?" She questioned, slowly getting over her amazement. "Yeah. She's my next room neighbor. HAHAHAHA!!!!", Shampoo gives him a confused look suggesting she didn't get the joke. "Sorry, inside joke, but anyway she transferred to Nizomi University last semester to get closer to Ranma. Her transferring was the big highlight of the semester!" "Why?" "Well for starters I nearly died eating Akane's cooking every day. Second, we were both having trouble with our major till she transferred. We've also been training each other." "Why you train with Uyko? You should train with someone from village!" "WWWell I would have, but when I went to ask you, you said no. My wounds took a whole week to heal. So I asked Mr. Tendo if I could train with Ranma and Akane. After that I trained weaponless for a couple of months until Ukyo transferred. She saw that I was completely ignoring my weapons training; so... she tested me, I lost. I was rusty, literally. Since then we've been training each other. But I still wanted to train weaponless so now Ukyo and I train together. Then we train with Ranma and Akane." As Mousse went on about how college is with Ukyo around. He remembered the time when they were studying late one night for a test at the library. Shampoo thought, (He looks happy talking about Ukyo, maybe too happy. Well that's good! ....I guess. Maybe he'll forget me now.) Shampoo sighed sadly still confused about what happened that morning. *********************************** Just before the library closed Ukyo fell asleep. Mousse quietly put their books away so not as to wake her and he carried her back to his room. He placed her on his futon and covered her. Mousseslept over on the other side of his apartment. That morning Ukyo woke up to the smell of a western breakfast. "Morning, sleepy. You've must have been really tired. Here eat. Our class starts in an hour." Mousse handed her a plate of food. "Where am I?" Ukyo asked wiping the sleep out of her eyes. "In my room. I couldn't find your key in your bag and your roommate, Certs, wasn't in so I let you have the futon." "Where did you sleep?" She looked at her breakfast with disdain. On the plate were eggs over easy with hash browns and bacon. "In my sleeping bag." She tasted the food. "MMMM!!! This is good!" She eyes him suspiciously. "When did you learn to cook?" "I worked in a restaurant throughout high school. You would think I'd pick up a few things.", Mousse remarked with a smirk. A little angry at Mousse, Ukyo raises her voice a little to make it known. "Yet I always cook when we're together, you jackass, and I never ever seen you cook before. If you can cook, why did you eat Akane's cooking?" "Like I said, I worked in a restaurant throughout high school. I hate cooking. Besides, there is less of a recovery time from Akane's cooking than her beatings. You eventually build up an immunity to her cooking," explained Mousse. "Oh," her anger going away, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have fallen asleep." "Don't worry about it. I'm mean, you're my best study partner, when your not sleeping that is," he said teasingly. "We were studying for twenty hours without a break. I'm just glad it was you instead of me. I don't think you could have carried me back." "Why?" "Because I'm so fat." He said with a lazy grin as he hid the cooking utensils in his robe. "Huh?..... Oh ...HAHAHAHA... I get it." Ukyo laughed. That night they were studying again but this time they were in Ukyo's apartment. One thing her apartment has which Mousse's doesn't is a television and VCR. They served only one purpose to Ukyo and that was to watch and record her favorite show, Maison Ikkoku. When it was on, she wanted to be only one place and it was in front of the tube. Mousse tried to study while she was watching the show but he couldn't concentrate with all her laughing. So defeated once again by Ukyo's will, he watched it with her. He came in the middle of the series, so he was confused. But Ukyo is an Otaku when it comes to Maison Ikkoku. She had all the past episodes and OAVs recorded. Mousse got a crash course that night in the lives of Yusaku and Kyoko. It turned out that he liked the series; so they watched it but Mousse fell asleep during the last OAV. With Mousse's head in her lap, Ukyo saw that he had fallen asleep. She smiled and lowered the volume on the t.v. so she wouldn't wake him. After while Mousse snuggled closer to Ukyo and whispered, "Shampoo." With that her smile turned from amused to sad. (Mousse, you're my best friend in the world; right next to Ranma and I don't ever want to see you to get hurt.) She paused to look at him and started stroking his hair wondering, (Why do you love Shampoo so much? What do you see in her? All she ever does is hurt you and all you have ever shown her is love. She's nothing like you! College has really changed you; you were always gentle, caring, and now it's even more so. You think of everyone else first, even when it comes to Shampoo. Why can't you see that you deserve better than her?!), she thought with emotions generally reserved for Ranma. Mousse woke up to see Ukyo tears in her eyes and asked, "Ukyo? Are you crying?" "Oh! You're awake! I (sniff) didn't (sniff) mean to wake you," she said wiping her eyes. (Why am I crying?), Ukyo wondered. "Is something wrong?", he asked worried about his friend. "Oh! It's nothing! I was just thinking of Ranma and me and..." Mousse put a consoling hand on Ukyo's shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll get him. He'll come around." (She'll be crushed when Ranma and Akane reveal their feelings for each other. Still, for right now, I can't let her hope fade.) Ukyo looked into Mousse's eyes and saw nothing but compassion. "Oh, Mousse!" she cried out as she hugged him. (You deserve better you dumb duck!) ********************************************* Mousse noticed that Shampoo wasn't paying any attention to what he had said. "OH! I almost forgot to tell you that Ranma and Akane are married." Shampoo reacted by grabbing him by his tie forcefully, choking him in the process. "_What?!_" "Well, that got your attention real fast, didn't it," he said with a grin. "Boys who play tricks on young girls go very bad place, Mousse!" She took his glasses and threw them into the alley and started for the door. "You know, I wouldn't demean yourself like that, Shampoo," he said looking at the blur. "What you mean?" "You look like a young _woman_ to me, not a girl. And a lovely one at that." There was a bright red glow on her face accompanied by what looked to be a smile. Mousse couldn't believe it! She was giving him a smile because he complimented her and she wasn't beating him. However, it faded just as fast as it appeared. She went into the restaurant leaving him to fend for himself. Before she went inside, she locked back at Mousse to see him crawling around looking for his glasses. ((Sigh) He'll be there for hours. Oh well, at least he is cute when he squints. Te he.) After a while, Shampoo noticed that there weren't any of the familiar noises of pain coming from Mousse as he bumped into things. She looked outside to see if Mousse had already found his glasses. She was very surprised to see Mousse was navigating around objects instead of running into them while looking for his glasses. Confused, Shampoo decided to scare him. She went out, picked up his glasses, sneaked up behind him and... "AIYA!!!" Sensing someone behind him; Mousse whirled around, grabbed her hand and shirt, and he flipped her using his momentum as he fell back. (Whoever she was, she'll think twice before sneaking up on someone.) Mousse thought, (SHE!??!) Shampoo let out a small ouch as she landed hard on her back. "I'm sorry Shampoo! I didn't know it was you. I just reacted. I wasn't paying attention. I'm sorry my love," apologized Mousse as he rushed right past Shampoo. "Over here, duck!" yelled Shampoo with disgust, mostly at her inattention. He turned toward the voice to see a familiar purple blur. Mousse looked back and saw that he was talking to a bird. "Squawk!" It pecked him and left. "Here are glasses!" He could tell by her voice that Shampoo wasn't happy. "Thanks. Are you hurt?" Once Mousse had put on his glasses, they showed him a very angry Shampoo. "You just lucky!" SLAP!!!! "How do that? Ukyo not teach that!" Mousse explained while he nursed his cheek. "Well, last semester Ukyo and I went to a martial art convention with Ranma and Akane. Look, we got an hour before the store opens. Why don't we go in and I'll tell you what happened while I take care of this bruise. OK?" "Ok." *************************************** While Ukyo and Mousse were displaying some of their techniques to some people that were there. Plus... "Kawaikune!" "Hentai!" Ranma and Akane were arguing. "What are they arguing about his time?", Mousse asked as he threw a couple of knives at Ukyo. She swung her huge spatula and hit the knives back at him. "I think it's about the tournament.", Ukyo stated. He caught them and had to jump to dodge her kick that followed the knives. "What about it?" Mousse came down with a lasso and tied her up. She ducked a punch and used her huge spatula with her legs to sweep his legs out from under him. "He doesn't want her in it." She said as she jumped back to avoid the mace he threw at her, while using her big spatula to cut the lasso. "RANMA NO BAKA!!!!" "I hope Dr. Tofu is here. An OPENING ...I got...," Mousse said as he pulled the mace back as it passed her and used the chain that was attached to it to re-wrap her. He pulled her down toward him and pulled the 'killing' stick to finish their demonstration...WHAM!!!!, "...you ... ouch." Thud. Fortunately for Ranma it was one of those rare times that Akane missed. Unfortunately, Mousse was right behind him. When the mallet hit him, one of his weapons went flying toward a person. Ukyo shouted but it turned out to be unnecessary because the man deflected it with his wrist then caught the chain so it fell harmlessly to the ground. "Sorry...about...that. My weapons usually can withstand anything without coming lose," he apologized when he came to. Then Mousse noticed something. "You're... you're... How did you do that?...Your blind!" "OH MY GOD YOUR RIGHT! I JUST NOTICED! HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN THIS WAY?" The blind man obviously dealt with this before. "Way to go, Mousse." WHAM!!! Ranma leaves the conscious world and starts dreaming that, he is the only nail in a world of hammers. "Shut up, Ranma." Akane dryly said leaving the mallet on his head. "I'm sorry. It's just that... I assumed...I'm sorry." Mousse said apologetically. "It's okay. Don't worry about it." He said laughingly.. "I get that reaction all the time. Not many people expect a blind person to be into martial arts. That mallet must not have hit you really hard to jar only one weapon with all of those weapons you have on." "You don't know how hard Akane swings that thing. I hope you never have to find out either." Blink blink " . . . How did you know it was a mallet?" "By the sound of the impact. Being a blind martial artist has its advantages like catching muggers off guard, being able to tell if the cars are stopped at an intersection so I can walk across a street. I usually bring my seeing eye dog with but there is too much aggression here. He'd only end up attacking somebody. I'm curious; can I see your weapons?" "Sure. What's your name by-the-way? What are you doing?" "My name is Jyu P-tur. I need to feel them to see them, but," Jyu was frisking Mousse looking for the weapons, "I can't find them. I can hear them and there's a-lot of them but I can't feel them through your tunic. All right! I _know_ I'm not hearing things, so what's the deal?" "I'm a master of the Hidden Weapons Style taught at my village in China. I wouldn't be much of a master if I was in a grappling match and my opponent could feel my weapons and take them. The hidden weapons style just doesn't mean that your weapons can't be seen. You need to learn the style that the weapon comes from. And it needs to be a _complete_ erasure of its presence to the other person's senses. I impressed that you can hear them." "Wow. How long have you been training?" "I've been training since I was two." There is a momentary flood as everybody, except Mousse, starts sweating. "Can I ask you a question?" "Sure." Jyu said drying himself off. "Could you teach me your style?" "WHAT!?!?!?" exclaimed everyone who heard Mousse's speech. "Me? Teach you? Why? You already know an art. And it sounds like from what you told me that, you know every martial art style that has a weapon. I wouldn't know if I'd be teaching you something you'd already know." "Well it's kinda hard to explain, you see, I wear glasses." "And." Jyu stated waiting for the rest of the explanation. "Here let me show you, put out your hand and brace yourself for some pain." Mousse handed Jyu his glasses and took him outside. It was a nice sunny day and once the rays from the sun hit theglasses Jyu dropped them. "Whoa! What were those magnifying glasses?!", Jyu said rubbing his hand. "No, my glasses. I have the strongest prescription in the world. And even then things are a blur. The scientists in America want to make a new space telescope with them. I told them if they could make me a pair of contacts I'll give my glasses to them." "Let me guess. You never look directly at the sun do you?" "No sir," Mousse laughs a little at the joke, "I like my eyes. Flawed as they may be. Now do you see the reason? Will you please teach me?" "Yes I do. But I don't know if I _can_ teach you. You see I was taught by a sighted person. My Sensei saw what I was doing wrong and corrected me. I wouldn't know if you made a mistake or not." An old man came into the conversation. "Please teach him." *TEACHER!* Mousse exclaimed being he hasn't seen him in over four years. "Who are you?" Jyu asked politely "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Spray, Mousse's teacher. Stand up straight Mousse! AND close your mouth." He points to Ranma. "You too!" Spray takes out a cane from his robe and whacks Mousse and Ranma on the head. They go into dreamland. He turns to Jyu and asks, "What is your name young man?" "My name is Jyu." "Well, Jyu I ask you to teach my pupil as a favor to an old man." "I would like to. Honest. But if he makes a mistake how am I going to tell?" Jyu said clearly concerned. "What if one of his friends was there telling you what he was doing?" "All right," Jyu said giving up, "I'm willing if someone else is." "I'll do it!", Ukyo said in a rush before Ranma could say anything. "Good! Mousse!" Spray turned to Mousse. *Yes, Sifu!* Mousse straightened at his Sifu's voice. *In Japanese!* "Yes, Sensei." "I want you to come back to the village when your done training. And bring your friends with you." "Why Sifu?" "Just humor an old man. Mousse, although you are good in our style it still needs to be polished. You are no where near as fast as you should be. You still need to know more before you take on the responsibility I need to give you. And one more thing before I give my lecture." He puts on a big grin on his face. "Yes Sifu?" "I'm glad you gave up on Shampoo. Your new girlfriend is cute. What's her name?" Spray puts his arm around Mousse points at Ukyo. Mousse and Ukyo being caught off guard, stared at each other until Ranma and Akane's snickering brought them back to earth. "What? No, no, no. We're just friends." Ukyo and Mousse say at the same time trying to avoid each other's gaze. Ranma and Akane are still snickering. "Oh, sorry for the mistake," Spray said with a knowing smile, "I must have misinterpreted the way you were acting toward Mousse." Embarrassed, Ukyo quickly says, "I already have a fiancee," and hugs Ranma. "He is NOT your fiancee," yells Akane and starts arguing with Ukyo. "What is with those two?" Jyu and Spray asked Mousse. "You don't want to know." ****************************************************************** CHAPTER 3 - GOODBYE, I HAVE A DATE. PART 2 Mousse didn't tell how he trained to Shampoo because she doesn't respect simple methods of training, which is why she doesn't know the Bakusai-Tenketsu. Mousse was taken to a dojo, which Ranma and Akane had boarded up, he was placed in the center of the room and Jyu came upon a problem. Stripping Mousse of his weapons was the biggest problem Jyu had ever come across. "You want me to do what?!" Mousse backed himself into a corner looking frantically at the people there. They were lined up in a row surrounding Mousse. First, there was Jyu, looking terribly frightening in his black gi with his black glasses on. He wore his long hair, which had a natural bright red stripe down the middle of his jet black hair, over his shoulders giving him the appearance of a red striped panther. Second, there was Akane. She was a little taller and filled out her gi, very, nicely. But Mousse was paying attention to what she was carrying. She was brandishing her new mallet. It shined so much that the last thing its victim would see was his shocked expression. Mousse regretted teaching her to use it more effectively. Ranma was next, dressed in his kung-fu outfit. He was standing there with his arms crossed with a wicked smile on his face. Like Akane he grew. It wasn't the fact that he grew taller that bothered Mousse. It was that he grew more athletic. Finally, Ukyo was leaning on her spatula giving Mousse a smile that said give up your weapons or be hurt. "I want you to drop your weapons," stated Jyu. "I've never been without a weapon! Even when I trained with Ranma I wasn't without a weapon!" "Mousse, drop your weapons, otherwise we'll be forced to hurt you." Ranma said forcefully. Mousse gave Ranma a withering look but saw everyone else backing him up and backed down. "All right, all right, all right! I'll do it!," Mousse said with indignity. He took of his tunic and shook it out. The results took the form of a three-foot pile of weapons. "Okay, that's all of them. Happy now?" "No, I'm not! I don't think we have all of them. Take off your shirt." Mousse took off his shirt and gave it to Jyu. Ukyo, Ranma, and Akane were blinking, sweating, and slowly backing away in fright. Because of the fact that Jyu had added six more feet of weapons to the pile. Three hours later. Jyu, Ranma and Akane are trapped in a corner in shock. Ukyo is in front of a dressed and very upset Mousse. She was still emptying him. "Okay... What haven't we done yet? We've done your tunic, T-shirt, legging, and your shorts. What's left? I know! Somebody get me a comb." Ranma and Jyu couldn't move but Akane managed to wiggle out to find a comb and threw it to her. Ukyo started to comb Mousse's hair. As she combed his hair, things started to fall out; a bat, a collection of antique throwing knives, a mallet twice the size of Akane's, "Hey! Where did you get that?" Akane asked with a gleam in her eye, and finally a ball and chain that was three times the size of the mallet. Ranma in seeing the final result of their work exploded, "How in the world can you fit all of this on you!!!!????? Especially that BALL AND CHAIN! WHAT ARE YOU? I .... I..... I..... I... I..." Ranma started to babel incoherently. "I tried to warn you. I've never unloaded completely before, it's easier just to leave them on. Jyu called from under the pile, "Could someone call a truck? ..Please?" After the hall was emptied Jyu placed Mousse back in the middle of the room. "All right Mousse. I want you to concentrate and tell me where my fist is. Every time you get it wrong you're going to get hurt. After you start getting them right consistently, they're going to get faster. And eventually you'll start having to block. Don't forget that fists aren't the only thing that can hit you; a foot, bonuri, a mallet, knives, anything, so I also want you to say what is in front of you. If you don't get it right, you're going to get hurt. Remember, I want you to concentrate and listen. You can't rely on your eyes anymore. You have to rely on your touch, your hearing, and your smell in blind- fighting. Your art has been hampered too long. Once you master this you won't need your glasses to fight anymore. If an opponent thinks your glasses are a weakness you'll have the advantage then, not him. Are you ready to leave your eyes behind?" "Yes!" Mousse gave his glasses to Ukyo and she gave him a smile and mouthed 'good luck' before blindfolding him. Jyu prepared himself and threw a punch. "All right! What's this?" "A foot. In front of my face." "Ukyo?" "Wrong. A Fist." PUNCH "OW!" After living blindfolded for a week trying to dodge everything. "What's this?" Jyu asked. "A fist in front of my face." Mousse said as he blocked it. "RIGHT!", Ukyo cheered not waiting for Jyu's question. "Good! Good! You got it, but don't take off the blindfold yet. I'm going to take a break but you're not. I want you to be ready for anything. Don't forget to listen to the movements of the air, feel the gentle wind of the room, smell the scent of the air and of the people in here. I want you to keep total concentration. I don't know when my break will be over but, you will.", Jyu walked away from Mousse toward Ranma. "Ranma, I want you to take my place.", Jyu whispered. "Why?" "Because you're faster than me. You would be the best test for him. Please, do it for him. Okay?" "Okay." Mousse heard someone step in front of him and felt the rush of wind that was in front of a punch. He yelled out, "Fist!" as he blocked it. "Fist!", Block. "Fist!", Block. Foot! , Block. This went on for a minute when Jyu shouted, "Faster!" Fist!, Block. Fist! , Block. Foot!, Block. Another minute went by Jyu shouted, Faster! Another minute. Faster. Minute. Faster. Minute. Faster. Minute. Faster. Minute. Faster. Minute. Faster. (I'm surprised. I'm almost in Amaguriken mode. Oh well . . . Why not go full tilt.), Ranma reasoned. "KACHUU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!" "WHAT??!!! RANMA!!!! ", Mousse exclaimed. Nobody answered as he was getting pelted by fists but he was blocking them more frequently. Soon none of the punches were getting through. "You shouldn't be able to block my punches," Ranma stated wondering if it was a good idea using the amaguriken against Mousse. "I feel the air that's in front of your fists, Ranma. I don't need to depend on my glasses any more during a fight." "Okay then, lets up it a level." Ranma started going faster until all Mousse heard was a rush of wind. He had to go even faster and faster until they stopped at a certain speed. Mousse got used to the speed and started returning punches. Ranma got pelted by some punches; surprised at the sudden return he yelled, "Hey! You're not supposed to return them!" "Why? Did you think I was going to tire out? Come on! Speed up!" With that Mousse started going faster. Ranma kept up the pace easily and soon they took it beyond both their limits. "All right Mousse!", Jyu cheered, "Ukyo take off the blindfold and turn on the lights." Mousse faltered as he was assaulted both by the light and a fist. "Ukyo can I have my sight back?" Ukyo asked Jyu and he nodded his agreement. Once Mousse's sight came back he saw Ranma smiling. And he asked, "Why are you smiling?" "Because, Mousse, I just learned a new technique. But I'm not going to use it until I need it. And I just taught you the amaguriken. So, you're my first pupil." Ranma said smugly. "You know what, Ranma. I didn't like the way you said that. KACHUU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN REVISED, BLIND LIGHTING FURY!" Mousse switched from to punches to kicks catching Ranma off guard. Then he took off his glasses, put the blindfold back on and let his instincts take over. Mousse started going faster and faster and faster switching between kicks and punches. Akane seeing that Ranma was getting hit by lighting fast kicks and punches yelled, "Hey! I thought they were only sparring!" "What's going on?!" Jyu asked. "He's pushing Ranma back!" Ukyo answered, afraid for the both of them. "When... did... you... become... so... fast?", Ranma asked as he blocked a kick then tried to dodge a punch to no avail. "I realized something. I was always as fast as you but was with my weapons. Now, I'm weaponless so I'm even faster. And you just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time." "I'm tired of this. KATSHU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN REVISED, METEOR STORM!" Mousse started to feel a heat coming from Ranma. Ranma started to draw on his CHI but not releasing it in one blast. Instead he released it in little flashes every time he threw a punch at Mousse. Even though Mousse was blocking the attacks he was losing ground. The attacks felt like torches. He had to start dodging them otherwise he would have died from the burns. Later, Ukyo told Mousse that he looked like he was in a strobe light. When the last bit of Ranma's chi was used Jyu stopped them before they killed each other. Both Ranma and Mousse passed out supporting each other making an upside-down v. When Mousse woke up, he found Ukyo taking care of his wounds; she wanted to take care of Ranma but Akane was tending to him already. "You know, you're a dumb duck. Akane and I had to pry your fists from each other. I was scared for you when Ranma did his Meteor Storm. Jack-Ass, why did you go all out?", Ukyo asked. "I got angry. Ranma always thinks he's better than everybody. And he started bragging during the fight. He was congratulating himself on teaching me the Amaguriken. He thinks he's better than me. Well he's _not_. Every time we've fought it's always been toe to toe. The only reason he wins is that he gets lucky or he learned a new technique. And he when he wins he thinks it's because he's better. I wanted him to know he's not better than me. He is a good martial artist. And we could be friends but there are two things preventing that. First, Shampoo, it's not his fault I know that but if she would only realize that he doesn't love him, she would leave him. It wouldn't be so bad if she lost to someone that loved her. But nooo she loses to a guy who was already in love when he... ," Mousse noticed the look on Ukyo's face. It was one of sadness. "I'm sorry Ukyo I shouldn't have said that. I know you're in love with him." "It's okay," she said with tears in her eyes, "I'm getting used to it, now. The fact that I'm in love with someone who is in love with somebody else. But I can't give up hope. I wish... Akane... but she's a friend. It's so hard. At least you still have a chance." "It's still not much of a chance. I don't want to fight her, but I can't marry her unless I defeat her in combat. But I'll never win because I never take the advantages that she leaves. If only Ranma loved her. I'd know she would be safe and most importantly she would be happy." "You really love her, don't you?" Asked Ukyo seeing the love in Mousse she wished she had from Ranma. "You have no idea. Ranma really _is_ to blame for all this. His ego is making everyone he cares about suffer. I don't like him treating you like a friend even when he knows your in love with him. Doesn't he realize how much he hurts you?" "I try not to.", Ranma said surprising both of them. "How long have you been there?", Ukyo asked. Ranma had thoughtful and sad expression on his face. "Long enough. I'm sorry Ukyo, Mousse." Hearing this enraged Mousse. "YOU'RE SORRY!!! YOU'RE SORRY!!!!!" "It's all right, Mousse." "NO, IT'S NOT, UKYO. LOOK AT HER!!! YOU DID THAT!!!! YOU MADE HER CRY!!! YOU HAVE BEEN HURTING HER FOR ALL HER LIFE AND YOU SAY YOU'RE SORRY!!!!! YOU TAKE AWAY MY LOVE AND YOU SAY I'M SORRY!!!! YOU CAN'T EVEN SAY I LOVE YOU TO AKANE AND YOU SAY I'M SORRY! I DON'T KNOW HOW IN THE WORLD YOU CAN LIVE WITH YOURSELF! YOU RUIN PEOPLES LIVES JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU! STOP LETTING PRIDE GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR FEELINGS! YOU DON'T NEED PRIDE TO LIVE, TO LOVE, TO HAVE FRIENDS! BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT! I'M SORRY RANMA. I JUST CAN'T LET YOU OFF THE HOOK THAT EASILY!" Mousse took him by the shoulders and threw him into the wall. Ranma dodged the mace that followed but had to block the knee that was aimed for his head. Ranma made a swipe for Mousse's head with his leg, which he ducked. But Ranma continued around to a leg sweep which Mousse jumped over. He continued his motion and aimed his next turn at Mousse's chest. Mousse blocked it and used Ranma's momentum to throw him back into the wall. But Ranma rebounded of the wall and kicked Mousse in his face knocking him off his feet. As he fell, Mousse went into a backflip, he placed his hands on the floor, used his legs to grab Ranma's leg and finished the flip. Resulting in Ranma getting his side smashed into the floor. Ranma kicked Mousse's legs out from under him and punched him in the back as he fell. When Mousse got up Ranma yelled out, "HIRYU SHOUTEN HA!" (How am I going to counter this?), he thought. Then his glasses flew off and suddenly Mousse knew the answer. He brought his legs together, put his arms out, Mousse brought his hands together and forced all the sensations he was feeling out of his hands and yelled out, " BLIND FALCON'S DEATH!" His chi took the form of a falcon and flew straight through the hurricane hitting Ranma in the chest knocking him back through the wall. "Ranma!", Akane yelled and went after him. Ukyo started to go after him but Mousse put an arm in front of her stopping her. "Let her do it. He'll be fine." "Why did you do that to Ran-chan?", Ukyo yelled at Mousse pounding on his chest. "He deserved it! He needed to be taught a lesson. Plus .. . " He hesitated when their eyes met. "Plus what?" Ukyo stopped her pounding but left her hands on his chest. "Plus you were crying! And when I saw him . . . I couldn't let him hurt you anymore. You're too special to me." Mousse said, unconsciously putting a hand to her cheek. "Special?" Ukyo took his hands in hers and returned the look he gave her. A picture of Shampoo flashed in Mousse's mind and he realized what he was doing. "Did I say that? Well... what I meant was um... um..." "Mousse!" Surprised, Mousse broke the hold Ukyo had on him and turned around and looked gratefully at Akane coming at him with the mallet. He didn't bother to block it knowing that in his weakened condition that he was going to pass out anyway. "Stop! Akane!" Ranma yelled as he took the mallet away. "But look what he did to you!" She yelled in her defense. "Yes, he defeated me in combat.", He paused to let the full impact of the statement sink in, "He was right to do what he did. He needed to do it. All he has to do now is beat Shampoo. Good luck you'll need it. But what I want to know is where did you get the power to get through my punch?" "When the wind knocked my glasses flew off I reverted to blind fighting. Letting my instincts take over, I notice something among all the sensations that I was experiencing. It was my chi that I was feeling. The sensations were fueling it, powering it even more. Your chi comes from your confidence, Ryoga's comes from his depression. Mine comes from my lack of sight. I would have never felt it if you didn't throw that punch." "Why did it form a falcon?" Ukyo asked. "I don't know. I just needed to get through the wind so I guess I formed it that way." "Mousse, I'm sorry, for everything that's happened. I wish we could have met under different circumstances. Friends?" Ranma put out his hand. "Friends," Mousse said taking his hand. < End of Flashback> ********************************************************* "And that's what happened.", Mousse told Shampoo. "What he mean by responsibilities?" Shampoo wondered. "I don't know?" Cologne appeared out of nowhere as usual. "So my brother Spray was talking to you about responsibilities. I'm impressed, Mousse." "Hello O-baba. So you know what he meant by that then." "Yes." "Please tell me!" SLAM!!! "No. You'll find out when the time is right.", Cologne said as she took the cane from Mousse's head. "What was that for?" "For not getting to work! Now hurry up, we only have a half an hour left before opening." Ding. Mousse was still in the kitchen when the bell suggested that the first customer of the day had come in. When he went to greet the customer, he got a big surprise. "Welcome to the Neko . . . Ukyo!!??," Mousse heard Shampoo growl in the back, and ignored it. "Hi! What are you doing here? Don't you have to open UCCHAN'S?" (What is SHE doing here?) Shampoo thought. "Hi, Mousse. My regulars come after one so I had some free time. Besides, I wanted a change of pace. I never seen you wait tables before. What, did Shampoo ditch you? I know you don't deliver this early in the day." "Shampoo never forget responsibilities! Kill for insult!," yelled Shampoo coming out with her bonburi attacking Ukyo. Ukyo ducked as Shampoo swung at her. "Hey! Cut it out. I was only joking." yelled Ukyo dodging another swing and then blocks a kick. "Okay I wasn't. What about your responsibility to Mousse!" "Mousse not my responsibility." she said hesitantly, leaning back to avoid a kick then tilted her head to dodge a thrown spatula. "Oh really! How about when Mousse saved you from the bird-man on the island," Ukyo dodged a mace, "he knitted a scarf for you but you put Ranma's name on it." Ukyo continues her verbal barrage as Shampoo's strikes are getting closer and closer. "He's fought to protect you, he's fought for you in your place! All he has ever known or shown is the love he has for you and you scorn him. You're an idiot for not loving him. If you ask me, I think he's a great catch! You're lucky even to know him." "If you like so much. You go with him.", Shampoo said. That comment caught Ukyo off guard and then she started to consider it. Shampoo noticed Ukyo's expression; she became even angrier and decided to kill her. She went for the killing stroke when she noticed that her maces were cut in half and her hands were in Mousse's. Mousse threw Shampoo's hand to her side, stared her straight in the eye and quietly letting Shampoo know he was serious said, "I can't let you hurt her, Shampoo. I love you but you will have to kill me to get to her. Go in and make her order, NOW! Number 14!" Shocked into numbness. Shampoo went in the kitchen and started the order. (He's never yelled at me before,) she thought. Cologne, who watched the whole thing, said, *He hasn't yelled at you like that before has he.* *No, he hasn't, ever. I never saw him like that before.* *I have. You know, Mousse, he'll do whatever it takes to protect the people he loves. He's gotten better, a-lot better. He has the speed of the amaguriken. I wonder how he learned it. He also gained better control of his chi.* *How can he be so cold?*, Shampoo shivered at the memory of Mousse. *I think his infatuation with you is being replaced with that girl. Won't we be lucky if those two get together? We'll get rid of two problems with one blow.*, Cologne eyes Shampoo for a reaction to the conversation but there was none. (Who is it you love, Shampoo? Ranma or Mousse?) Cologne thought. Shampoo wasn't hearing anything she was just watching Mousse and Ukyo sitting together talking. She imagined them going out together; hugging, holding hands, getting married and having kids. Then she saw Mousse take out the two tickets for the movie he was going to take her to and gave them to her. Ukyo started to jump up and down. She hugged Mousse and gave him a kiss on the lips. Cologne comes next to Shampoo; looks over at Mousse and Ukyo and said, "Looks like Mousse has a date." Crack! " Oh! Sorry great-grandmother !'" "Shampoo! Now I have to fix this. Let go of the handle, granddaughter. Now, why did you do that?" "Shampoo SOOOO mad at Mousse.... he think he can beat me. Shampoo, go train for rest of day, okay?" "Okay Shampoo. But be back before closing so you can get ready for your date with Ranma.", Cologne called out to Shampoo. **************************************** Ukyo sat down and asked Mousse, "What was that about?" "I don't know." Since no one was at the Neko-hanten, Mousse sat with her. "Maybe she's jealous." Ukyo said with a smile. "I doubt it." Mousse sounded hopeless and his face looked even worse. Ukyo made a face and said, "Oh come on! Have some hope. You told her that you beat Ranma didn't you?" "No." Mousse said flatly. "Why not?" Ukyo said curiosity getting the better of her. "Because I would still have to beat her to marry her. And I want her to come to me freely, not out of obligation to an outdated law. How would I know if she married me out of love?" "I see your point. But who is the next in line to lead your village?" "Shampoo," Mousse said, "I know where your going with this." "Good... You love her don't you?" "Yes. With all my heart." Mousse said letting all of his love he has ever had for Shampoo come through in his voice. Ukyo was caught off guard at the depth of Mousse's love for Shampoo. It made her feel as if Shampoo was the only water in a desert that Mousse lived in, and that he experienced his first drink. She thought, (What is it with me and men who are in love with someone else.) She gave a small sigh and said, "Then fight her on her terms!" "But I can't bring myself to harm her." "Do you think the village elders will respect Shampoo if she has a husband who did not win her over? No! She'll be rejected and everything she's worked for all her life will turn to nothing. You want that to happen to her?", Ukyo said feverently. "No." Mousse responded, quietly acknowledging her point. "I can't decide for you Mousse. I just hope you know what your doing." The ring of the bell told Mousse that another customer came in and it was time for him to go to work. "Well, time to get to work. Here, take them, I was going to go with Shampoo but she didn't want to go with me. And I know you will enjoy them." Mousse handed Ukyo his two tickets to the Maison Ikkoku movie. Ukyo eyes lit up, "Arigato!" She screamed as she jumped up and down around the room. Then she gave Mousse a hug and kissed him on the lips. She looked at the expression of shock and confusion on his face and asked, "What?" trying to keep her giggling down to a minimum. Mousse blinked for a minute or two and his glasses fogged up. While his brain was trying to sort out what he just experienced. "Nothing! I'll.... go.... get your order!" Still confused, he got her order and ended up tripping over a plant. Luckily, Ukyo caught it before it hit the other customer. She stared at Mousse with wonder at his antics. While she ate, he was talking to plants, tables, and menus. When Ukyo was ready to leave, she went up and slapped him. "Mousse! Snap out of it! Why are you acting this way?" Ukyo said with concern in her heart. Mousse finally comes to his senses and the fog lifted. Visibly embarrassed, he looked at her, took a deep breath. "Thanks... sorry about that... I've gotta get to work." Mousse started to walk away but Ukyo wasn't about to let it go at that and grabbed him "Wait! What's wrong, why won't you look at me." Mousse had his head down and mumbled. Ukyo didn't t hear what he said. "What?" Mousse knew he couldn't escape this time so, "I only got kissed once before. I keep trying to save that for Shampoo." Mousse saw the look of shock on Ukyo s face and tried to cover himself. "Not that the kiss wasn't nice or anything like that. In fact I kind-of liked. But...." Ukyo's look went from shock to a smile. "Don't worry Mousse. You weren't unfaithful. I just gave you a peck. If I really kissed you, you would have known.. Now go to work and I've got to get going." Mousse sighed with relief. He went outside and waved goodbye. "Have fun with those tickets," he said with a smile. Ukyo returned the wave with a smile. "Oh I will. Good luck with Shampoo!" ********************************************************* CHAPTER 3 - GOODBYE, I HAVE A DATE. PART 3 Memories of Mousse running through her head, Shampoo jumped from roof to roof not caring where she was going. She finally ends up at an empty Furikan. (They're falling in love. Anybody can see that. Good! He needs love. God knows I haven't shown it to him...) She cries out, *Why am I feeling this way? I only love Ranma! DAMN IT!!!.... MOUSSE!!!!! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!?!? ,* She got up and started practicing her form. Every move was strong and graceful. They continued to get faster and faster becoming more exact and forceful until every one of them was flawless. Shampoo thinks to herself, (This will be the last time. The last fight. For both our sakes ..I can't lose.) Shampoo keeps telling herself she hates Mousse until she believes it. ***************************************** Shampoo is getting ready for another challenge from Mousse. (I wish Mousse would stop challenging me. I like him and all but he's doesn't want victory enough. He's always telling me he loves me.) Shampoo is starting to get mad. (If he really loved me he would hit back instead of trying to dodge all the time asking me to give up! He just doesn't get it! I can't love him until he defeats me. I just hope all of the rejections, insults, and injuries gets him mad enough to really fight. And if he, only if, he beats me I'll love him. Oh well, better go see where the idiot is.) "Shampoo, where are you my love?" Mousse's voice came from outside. Shampoo heard her younger sister's, Rinse, voice out in front yelling at Mousse. "Hey Mousse! Get off the roof. You could hurt yourself." (What is that idiot doing on the roof?) Shampoo thought. Mousse was on top of Shampoo's roof. How he got there was a mystery considering he didn't have his glasses on. Shampoo came out of the house and looked up at Mousse. "Mousse, you idiot! Come down from there." Mousse looked in the direction of Shampoo's voice and saw a black blur instead of a purple one and thought she had changed her hair. Rinse was only a year younger than Shampoo but looked just like her only more developed and her jet black hair was worn short. Upon seeing her pointed at her and said, "I challenge you for your hand!" Rinse prepared herself without a word; she being the second most popular girl in the village she was used to this happening. She saw Mousse jump at her but he misjudged the height and jumped into a branch. Rinse tried to catch him but she wasn't expecting all the weight and passed out from the impact. The first thing that Rinse saw when she woke up was Mousse's blue eyes. Rinse thought eyes were the gateways to the soul --< In other words she's a sucker for good-looking eyes. D.S.>-- and in her opinion she never saw anything more beautiful. Rinse gave her fiancee a VERY passionate kiss. Shampoo seeing all this was shocked. Mousse, her MOST persistent suitor had suddenly dumped her! Shampoo got very angry went up to Mousse pulled him off of her sister and hit him. "You better take care of my sister or ELSE! Have fun!" She placed him back on her and left. (Well that takes care of that! Why am I upset anyway? He's just a friend. We're going to become family now!) Only that their relationship never worked out. Even though Mousse was going to marry Rinse he still loved Shampoo. Rinse knew this and waited, hoping that he would fall in love with her, till they were about to proceed with the ceremony to release Mousse. A week later Mousse was about to challenge Shampoo when a red-headed girl came to the village. ********************************************* Later that night back at the Neko-hanten Mousse just finished closing the restaurant for the day. Shampoo came in the front door the usual way, breaking it down. Once the debris had settled Mousse looked at Shampoo, she never looked more determined in her life and never so beautiful. Mousse gave Shampoo a small chuckle. "You know Shampoo you're going to have to clean that up before you go out tonight because after the day I've had I'm not going to." "Shampoo no care for door!", Shampoo tried to keep her emotions under control so she could win this fight. "What do you care for then, Shampoo? Is it me? Or you just want to be beaten by anybody you come across." "Is challenge?", Shampoo asked with sadness in her voice. "Yes. It is. Don't expect to win this time Shampoo." Mousse gave her a smile that could only be described as love. Seeing that smile almost made Shampoo give up but she couldn't. "This is last fight forever, Mousse! No more want to fight you.... okay?" Mousse saw the sadness in her eyes and wondered at it. "Okay, Shampoo. No more fights. I won't need to after tonight. For you will be my wife." Ukyo was walking down the street, away from the Tendo Dojo disappointed that Ranma already had a date. And what was worse was the fact that the date was Shampoo. (Damn that girl! Getting in the way of all my prospects. First Ranma then Mousse and then Ranma again.) Seeing the Nekohanten ahead she thought, (I'll just give back one of the tickets to Mousse maybe he can get a refund. When Ukyo arrived at the restaurant she saw that the door was splintered and there were sounds of fighting come from it. She looked inside through the window and saw Mousse and Shampoo fighting. Shampoo was breathing heavily and there was a bruise forming on her cheek. While Mousse was just standing still, holding onto one of Shampoo's bonburi, he had tears in his eyes and his robe was almost shredded. Beneath you could see welts and scabs forming. A swift motion by Mousse and the bonburi disappeared into his cloak. This was just the advantage Shampoo needed, she faked with her mace toward Mousse's head while he dodged the mace to one side, his head met her foot in the form of a kick. The kick sent him flying into the wall; he bounced off of the wall and landed on the ground. The combined blows was enough to jar all of his weapons loose including his glasses. On seeing this Shampoo gave a heart-wrenching sigh looked at Mousse on the floor and said, "It over, you have no more weapon to fight with. I win." "I don t think so my wife." Mousse said as he slowly got up off the floor his battle aura manifesting in such a way that Shampoo felt the heat from across the room. "I'm going to give you a choice, Shampoo. You can either give up, be beaten by several blows or just one. It's your choice." The tone of Shampoo's voice betrayed her words when she said, "I no afraid of you, Mousse. You never beat me. You have no weapons and no sight. How you beat me?" Shampoo charged Mousse getting ready to slice him in half with the bonburi she had ready. Mousse heard a rush of wind above him and block the mace and gave Shampoo a swift punch in the gut. While she was still reeling from the punch Mousse got into position and gathered up his chi. "BLIND FALCON'S DEATH!" sent it toward Shampoo. The combined force of the blast and the punch sent Shampoo into unconsciousness. Cologne went to check Shampoo did some pressure points, walked over to Mousse and gave him his glasses and asked, "You beaten her, Mousse. After sixteen years I didn't think you would ever come to hurt her. But you can't marry her yet." Mousse knowing what she was going to say. "I've already beaten Ranma. You can go and ask him if you want. It doesn't matter to me. I'm going to give Shampoo the choice." Cologne looked at Mousse with a new respect a respect that wouldn't diminished for a LONG time. "You'll be a fine addition to the family. May I do some pressure points to relieve your pain, future son- in-law?" Mousse nodded. When Shampoo came to she looked at Mousse. Mousse looked at her with joy in his eyes and said, "Shampoo, O-baba said I have to defeat Ranma in order to marry you. But I want you to choose. The person you pick I'll make sure wins." Shampoo didn't know what to do. She never thought he would beat her. All she could do is turn her head away. Mousse was shook to the bone. He was so sure that she loved him. "So you really don't love me. After all these years... Shampoo, I can't bear to see you unhappy so I forfeit the right for your hand. But I tell you..... R...a...n...m...a... doesn't.... love... you... " Ukyo hears all of this and sees Mousse is about to collapse so she runs in, catches him and yells out, "Mousse-chan! What are you doing? Mousse, it's time for our date don't collapse before we get to the movie." Ukyo takes a dazed and confused Mousse in her arms and starts to leave. But before they go out the door Mousse turns around to see a shocked Shampoo and says, "Shampoo, I want you to know that I will always love you but I can't stay under this house anymore. You've taken everything, my heart and soul. I have to start over now, I'll come back for my stuff later." He looks at Ukyo then looks at Shampoo with tears coming out of his eyes, "Goodbye, I have a date." With Mousse using Ukyo for support they turn around and walk out of the Nekohanten arm in arm. Ukyou came back to the Nekohantern after a few minutes walked right up to Shampoo with a mixture of anger and joy on her face. "Just so you know Shampoo, Mousse beat Ranma." Author's Afterword Whew!!! Sorry about posting it in parts, but it was the only way I could post it. Finally after a month of rewrites it's done YYEEAAHH!!! So how did you like the ending. Just kidding!!! Although I could end this here, I won't, so be happy. The next chapter I'm bringing in everybody. And I do mean EVERYBODY. So chapter four is in the works so I'm setting the date for release in about a month. So how did you like the pairing of Ukyo and Mousse? I'm sure I'm not the first one to think of it, but I thought it worked rather nicely. Please, I need your input on the fight scenes. What do you think? Well, my fellow Otaku, I'm tired so I'm going into hibernation for awhile. Get ready when I wake up for CHAPTER FOUR -BLOOD BROTHERS. Send c&c to Gosenkugi@aol.com Dion Starfire OUT!!! "Look TARGETS!!!" "Where I need practice?" Dion Starfire