*********************
AWAKENINGS
*********************

Ranma stood before Shampoo, wearing a black and white tuxedo and looking
absolutely wonderful.  Shampoo unconciously touched her hair as she
waited for Ranma to say the words which she longed for.  Soft music
floated out of nowhere as Ranma stepped closer and closer to Shampoo.....

RANMA : I ...... I........ILOVEYOUAKANE!

Shampoo watched in stunned silence as Ranma swept past her to embrace
Akane, who stood behind Shampoo........

"SHAMPOO!!!!!"

Shampoo jerked up from her bed at the call from Cologne.  Shaking her
head slightly, Shampoo got dressed and slowly walked down to the
resturant.

COLOGNE : You are up late, great granddaughter.  Please assist Mousse in
the kitchen.  I don't feel quite safe when I leave him there alone.

SHAMPOO : Yes, great grandmother.

Shampoo began busily preparing the afternoon menu and occasionally
slapping Mousse on the head for not paying attention to what he was
putting in where.  Though she was working efficiently, the food was the
furthest thing from her mind.

<What am I doing here?> Shampoo muttered softly in mandarin, <Am I not a
beautiful accomplished Amazon warrior, one of the best in my village?  Yet
here I am in Japan, chasing after a man like a cheap harlot.  Not to
mention, a man who obviously prefers another.>

The lunch crowd came and left.  Shampoo could no longer concentrate on
her work.  She needed to get out, to calm her thoughts.

SHAMPOO : <Great grandmother, may I take a break for a while?>
COLOGNE : <Lunch for Ranma?>
SHAMPOO : <No great granmother, just a walk.>
COLOGNE : <Be sure to be back before the dinner crowd.>

Shampoo wandered aimlessly through the streets of Nermia, trying hard to
control her thoughts.  More than once, Shampoo had watched Ranma put
everything on the line for Akane and it had only made her more sure of
her decision to make Ranma her husband.  Yet for some unknown reason,
last night's dream, or more appropriately, last night's nightmare,
disturbed her.  Her wanderings brough her to the entrance
of Ucchan's.  Shampoo debated for a moment on whether to go in or
not, but the lack of a better place swayed her mind.

Ukyou tensed as Shampoo appeared inside.  She griped two little spachulas,
one in each hand, and intently watched Shampoo's every movement.  Shampoo
immediately recognized Ukyou's alertness.  She looked into Ukyou's eye
and held up both of hands in the universal sign of peace.

SHAMPOO : Shampoo not here to fight, maybe ........ (hesitantly) talk....

Though Ukyou was not quite convinced with Shampoo's addmission of a
peaceful visit, she loosened her grip on her spachulas.  Shampoo appeared
to be devoid of weapons, but Ukyou had lived in Nermia long enough to
realize, martial artists don't normally go around with their weapons out
for the world to see, not to mention, Shampoo was as good a martial
artist without her sword or bonboris as she was with them.

UKYOU : hmmmm, well ok, (grudgingly) I guess you can have a sit.  So what
	brings you to my resturant, Ranma isn't here you know.
SHAMPOO : Shampoo not here to see Ranma.
UKYOU : really? (suprised)

Shampoo began to toy with a pair of chopsticks as she wondered if she
should tell Ukyou about her dream.  Shampoo had little practice with
confiding to other people.  She never had many friends.  Martial Arts
training had been her main focus her whole life.  There was an
uncomfortable silence as even Ukyou wasn't sure what
to think.  The Shampoo before her was not the Shampoo she was used to
seeing.

SHAMPOO : What Ukyou think of life here?
UKYOU : uh?....wh-what? (thinking) *whoa, where did that come from?*
	What do you mean?
SHAMPOO : Ukyou good martial artist, good cook, and buisness women.  Not
	better than Shampoo, but good.   Why you waste life here fighting
	for man?
UKYOU : Whoa, wait a sec, I hope you didn't come here hoping to convince
	me into leaving Nermia and poor Ranchan cause it isn't going to
	happen.  No way that I am letting you have Ranchan.  *I* love
	Ranchan and he is *MY* fiancee.
SHAMPOO : (shaking her head) Shampoo not here to make Ukyou leave.
	Shampoo only little confused, only little (looking at Ukyou with a
	slight glare)
UKYOU : (looking at Shampoo strangely) so what's your point?
SHAMPOO : Shampoo had bad dream last night.  Dream about Ranma and
	Shampoo.......
UKYOU : oh?....and that's bad? (lifting her eye brows)
SHAMPOO : and.............Akane.
UKYOU : ah.....there's the stinger.....but so what? I mean you see Akane
	and Ranma together all the time anyway.  Never stopped you before.
SHAMPOO : Shampoo know that.  That reason why Shampoo so confused.
	Shampoo no longer know what to do.
UKYOU : huh?....you'll do what you have been doing, chase after Ranma even
	though you have no real legitimate claim on him. (looking slyly at
	Shampoo) Perhaps, you should leave Nermia.

Ukyou waited for the sharp retort that she knew would be coming, but
instead, Shampoo fell silent.

SHAMPOO : leave Nermia?......leave Japan?.....leave Ranma?

The last statement baffled Shampoo.  She could barely comprehend what that
would mean.

SHAMPOO : (muttering quickly in mandrin) <could this be the answer?  But
	can I give up on Ranma after all this time?  I suppose I could go
	back to China and even find the cure for my curse.  There are
	other men and maybe one of them would be a worthier husband>

With that last thought, Shampoo came to a decision.  She would leave
Japan.  As she stood up to leave, she turned to Ukyou.

SHAMPOO : Shampoo no longer confused.  Arigato Ukyou.
UKYOU : huh? what?.......what are you going to do?
SHAMPOO : Shampoo going to leave Japan, return to China.  Going to
	learn more martial arts and find cure for curse.  Maybe even find
	new husband.

Shampoo quickly turned to leave.  She was feeling alive again, and in
control.

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

Well for those who actually got to the end, you are truly a tolerant
person ^^  English was never one of my strong points and in my haste
to start this fanfic, I may have sacrificed some grammer rules ^^ so any
C&C are appreciated.  And those who wonder what the point of this ff may
be, there is a point and a plot.....I swear it ^^  BTW this is my first ff
as well, so the rough edges were to be expected :P

Arigato for your time ^^

Sage-chan