Magical Interludes:  December's End
Fanfic by J.K. Hayashi

Chapter 5:  Negotiations - Part IV

Mousse:  <Then don't marry me, Shampoo!  Take me as a consort.  I 
	don't care.>
Shampoo:  <Mousse...>
Mousse:  <I just want to be with you, Shampoo.>

**********************

Cologne sat grumbling at the cash register of the Cat Cafe.  
Shampoo and Mousse had managed to sneak out of the house 
without her noticing.  As the last customer left the restaurant, a man 
in a uniform entered and turned the "Open" sign around.  Cologne 
raised her eyebrows at him.

Cologne:  "What do you think you're doing, young man?"
Colonel:  "You are Cologne?"  
Cologne:  "That depends."
Colonel:  (pulling out notepad)  "You are the Cologne that 
	emigrated here from the Jokusetzuku village roughly seven 
	months ago, along with two relations, a middle-aged man 
	and a young girl?  You are rumored to be a martial arts 
	master with a number of powerful techniques.  Estimated 
	age..."

Cologne throws the Colonel out the door (or rather, through the 
door).  

Cologne:  "These young brats... no respect for experience."

In walked a general holding a old man whose body was wrapped in 
duct tape and who mumbled "pretty girlies" while holding onto an 
inflatable female nude-body doll.

General:  "Cologne, we believe you're the person we're looking for."

**********************

Ryoga regained consciousness in the Tendo living room with a huge 
headache.  He wondered how he got there.  He had been on the dojo 
steps in an awkward moment with that daughter of Ranma, Ayuki, 
when the lady who was supposed to be Ranma's mother walked by in 
that tight black dress...

Ryoga lost consciousness again.

**********************

Nodoka and Genma walked arm in arm down the Tokyo streets in 
the Roppongi District, having turned in their rental car.  Eventually, 
Nodoka looked up and pulled Genma into a hotel lobby.

Nodoka:  "I'd like to reserve a room."
Clerk:  "Yes, ma'am.  Have you been here before?  Is there a special 
	room that you'd prefer?"
Nodoka:  "I would prefer the 'honeymoon' suite, if you have one."
Clerk:  (getting the room keys)  "Congratulations!  How long would 
	you like it for?  Fifteen minutes?  An hour?  Twelve hours?  
	A day?"
Nodoka:  "What's today's date?  The 28th?"
Clerk:  "Yes, ma'am.  We accept all major bank checks or credit 
	cards."
Nodoka:  (signing the logbook)  "We will pay you when we check 
	out.  On the morning of the 31st."

Nodoka takes the keys and drags Genma to an elevator.  The clerk 
smiles at the couple.

**********************

Ryoga woke up to hot water being dumped on his head.  He saw 
Ayuki standing over him holding a bucket.

Ayuki:  "Well..."
Ryoga:  "Well..."
Ayuki:  "Are you going to ask me out, or aren't you?"

**********************

Keiko arrived home to find Midori practicing with Akane in the 
dojo with Ranma, Kasumi, and Soun watching them.  She runs over 
and hugs Ranma.

Ranma:  (surprised)  "What's wrong, Keiko?"
Keiko:  "Nothing... nothing, daddy."

Keiko remained silent while everyone walked to the living room.

**********************

Shampoo and Mousse knocked on the front gate of the dojo.  They 
walked by Kasumi, who directed them to the living room.

Shampoo:  "Shampoo not give up on Ranma.  Ranma still be 
	Shampoo's husband."
Everyone:  "What?"
Shampoo:  "Shampoo Ranma's wife according to law."
Everyone:  "What?"
Mousse:  "Hit me, Saotome."
Ranma:  "Why should I, Mousse?"
Mousse:  "So we have an excuse to tell the old ghoul.  Please, 
	Ranma, do this for me."

Ranma sighs and hits Mousse in the head, knocking him to the 
floor.  Shampoo picks Mousse back up.

Shampoo:  "Mousse take Shampoo home now."

Shampoo and Mousse left the dojo.

**********************

Kodachi crept around on the roof of the Tendo household.

Kodachi:  "So.  That chinese hussy is also trying to steal my darling 
	Ranma away from me."

Kodachi jumped off the roof into the pathway outside the Tendo's 
wall, then started home.

Kodachi:  "First I'll get rid of that tart, Akane.  Then that chinese 
	hussy and then that peasant okonomiyaki cook."

Kodachi started to laugh.  A gloved hand came from behind and 
grabbed her on the shoulder.

Voice:  "All right.  I've heard enough.  You're under arrest for 
	stalking."

*******************************************finis Chapter 5

Next:
Chapter 6:  Negotiations

Cologne gets propositioned!  Kodachi resists arrest!  The Inspector 
visits the dojo!  Soun attempts to engage Nabiki!  The revelation of 
the "mysterious watcher" (chapter 4)!