A few words of explanation:
This is a multi-author project that was organized on the FFIRC channel.
It was run as a Round Robin -- meaning that it was passed from one
author to the next, and, subject to certain guidelines, each writer
had the freedom to do in his chapter whatever he felt best.
We aren't going to tell you who wrote which section(s) until the end.
Feel free to guess. It's more fun that way, and we're interested in
seeing unprejudiced feedback on our writing. Those who know who did
what because of having seen the project elsewhere are asked not to
identify the authors, except that the writer of any particular section
may of course own up to it if he wants to.
This is the first of three installments. C&C is most welcome, and may
be posted to FFML or sent by way of <kleppe@execpc.com>.
FFIRC Presents....
Heart's Desire
Series Authors:
Ken Arromdee Donny Cheng TJ Hamilton
Sean Hayden Ronny Hedin Gary Kleppe
Thomas Schmidt David Tatum Ethan Tsai
Ranma 1/2 and all characters and backstory belong to Rumiko Takahashi
Chapter 1: Akane Tendo
True Heart's Desire
Happosai would never suspect that she had stolen the locket.
Akane told herself that, and to some degree she believed it, but the
thought of the old pervert chasing after her was still disturbing.
Well, it was always disturbing, but especially now. She had a
decision to make. So Akane left Nerima, traveling across Tokyo to a
park on the other side of the city. There she planned to decide what
to wish for.
The locket worked; they had all seen evidence of that. Frankly, she
didn't want to know what Happosai had wished for to make that thing
appear. Akane had snuck back to the dojo while the others hid at the
Saotome's house, and had been lucky enough to get to the locket while
the old lech slept off his big day. Now it was clasped around her
neck, hung from a simple golden chain.
It was a breezy day in the park, and the wind was awash with the
scent of flowers. Akane strolled down a rocky path, trying to clear
her mind. She wasn't used to thinking seriously about the past, or
about what the future might bring. Since the engagement, she had
been especially reluctant to think about the future. She had her
dreams, but - but nothing, she realized with a shiver. They could
become real now.
She had to do this systematically, Akane decided.
She needed to isolate what was important to her and analyze it. She
had only one wish, and a wish was not a thing to be wasted.
The first thing to come to mind, as it was all too often, was Ranma.
She thought she might be in love with him. Should she spend her
wish to make him hers forever? A part of Akane shouted no, that she
shouldn't waste her wish on that pervert; another part shouted yes,
that there was nothing she wanted more. But the frightening thought
was that she might already have him. Whenever she considered the
battle with Saffron, the only thing she could manage to think of was
"I love you;" everything else was a dark miasma beside the light of
those words. And they almost been married, already. The whole thing
was terrifying; she didn't want to think about it anymore, and she
didn't want to wish for Ranma.
She could do something about Ranma's other fiancees. See how
Shampoo likes being a cat all the time, or Ukyou being a real man.
Akane giggled, shaking her head. She would never do that. She wasn't
the vindictive sort; she didn't really want to hurt anyone, just to
sort of get them out of the way. It crossed her mind to set them up
with somebody else; Mousse and Konatsu would be very happy. There was
something wrong with changing people's minds, though. It was too
underhanded, too much like Shampoo's potions.
Kunou? Akane dismissed the idea. Her sisters? Here was some room
for improvement, she thought. Kasumi was a few cards short of a full
deck, Nabiki as cold as ice, and as for herself, well, she had real
problems showing her affection. How could a wish help them, though?
Nothing struck her, and she didn't want to wish for anything general
enough to be misinterpreted.
Material visions swam before her as she took a seat on a wooden
bench. She could be rich, richer than anybody, or have perfect
grades, or admission to the university of her choice. She could make
herself a great warrior, and finally show Ranma what was what. She
could cook a great meal and shove it in his face. But no; she wanted
to do something huge, something significant, not just to change a tiny
corner of her life.
Suddenly an idea hit her and she was struck by the simplicity of it,
grabbed by the force of it, carried away by its allure. It was
perfect, it was perfect, and she had wanted it so much for so long.
Akane pulled the locket out of her blouse, held it firmly in her
hand, and spoke clearly the words upon which she had decided. The
locket grew red-hot in her hand; she dropped it with a yelp. It
rolled between her legs and underneath the bench. Akane dropped to
her knees, searching frantically. The locket was easy to find; it
flashed like a strobe light in a mesmerizing array of colors, though
it made not a sound. It ceased to glow without a moment's warning.
Akane reached for it tentatively. When she could feel no heat
radiating from it she plucked the locket from the ground and
reattached it to her chain.
Akane rose to her feet, a nervous tremor running down her legs. Had
the wish worked? Would her will finally be done? She walked
hurriedly out of the park, heading for the train station.
In the end, she had no reason to worry. When she ran home her
mother was waiting for her.
Chapter 2: Ryoga Hibiki
Lucky Day
"Man, this bites," Ranma said as he trudged down the sidewalk.
"I really wish I didn't have to put up with stuff like this."
It was really weird seeing Akane's mother turn up alive. Nabiki
was still sure it was some sort of trick, but the other two sisters
seemed to just acccept it, as if there were nothing suspicious about
someone coming back after supposedly being dead for ten years -- in
perfect health, and not even able to remember where she'd been all that
time.
Then when Mrs. Tendo met Ranma, all she could do was keep asking
questions. Did he make good greades in school? What did he plan to do
after graduation? It all boiled down to the real, unspoken question:
*Are you good enough for my daughter?* Of course, one thing she never
asked was whether he really wanted to get married or not. Why should she
be any different from anyone else?
Akane didn't even seem to care that Ranma even existed, now that
her mother was back. He had to resort to jokes about her cooking to get
her to talk to him at all, and all they got him was a 'Ranma, you jerk!'
and a frying pan in the face. Then she called him jealous. As if he
cared what that tomboy did!
Her mother ended up sending him off to the grocery store, with a
shopping list the size of one of Kuno's speeches. Like he didn't have
anything better to do than buy ingredients for Akane's toxic waste.
Jealous? What a stupid idea. What did Ranma have to be jealous
about?
"Oh, it's so cute!"
"Come on, Sachiko, it's my turn to hold him!"
"Tee hee! In a minute!"
Passing by a park, Ranma saw several giggling girls in school
uniforms huddled together. Looking closer, he noticed that the object
of their affections was a familiar black piglet.
Ranma leaned idly against a tree as he watched. "What the heck
is he doing? Akane's been going nuts looking for her P-chan, and here he
is playing around. What a stupid, inconsiderate jerk that Ryoga is!"
"Yeah." A voice came from behind. "I hear he even talks to
himself!"
"Really? That... HEY!" Ranma turned around to see Ryoga standing
there. "Huh? How... how can you be in two places at once?"
Ryoga smirked. "I'm the only me, Ranma. From now on, P-chan and
I are completely seperate." He opened a canteen and poured water over
his head to prove his point. "Water doesn't do anything to me now except
get me wet. Too bad *you* still have your curse!"
"You got cured?!" Ranma's eyes bulged excitedly. "HOW? Tell me!"
***
Ryoga's thoughts drifted back to earier that morning. He had
just unfolded a piece of paper. THIS WILL BE YOUR LUCKY DAY, it read.
"One hundred yen, please." the old man said, holding out a hand.
"I didn't want a fortune!" Ryoga protested. "I just wanted
directions!"
The street vendor merely repeated himself. "One hundred yen,
please." Ryoga sighed and handed over the money.
He set out walking. It was a cloudless morning. The sun hung low
in the sky, baking the city in its warmth. Ryoga huffed and puffed as he
forced himself to keep going; the summer heat was enough to challenge
even his phenomenal endurance.
Deciding it would be a good idea to stop and try to ask for
directions again, he approached a nearby teenage girl. "Excuse me, could
you please tell me how to get to Nerima? The Tendo Dojo?" Actually it
was Akari's farm he wanted to get to, but he didn't even know what
district it was in. He'd have to go to the Tendos' place and hope
somebody there could help him.
"No problem, all you need to do is follow this road." She
pointed. "It's not far."
"Thanks!" Ryoga waved and headed off.
"Not that way! The other way! Never mind, follow me and I'll
show you."
"Um...." The thought of getting involved with some unknown girl
made Ryoga a little nervous. "Are you sure... I mean, is it too much
trouble?"
"Nah, it's okay," she said as she started down the sidewalk.
"I've got nothing to do right now anyway. Besides, I might run into
Darling at the dojo!"
Ryoga hurried to catch up, feeling vaguely curious about who
this girl's 'Darling' was.
The girl sighed as she walked. "It's not much fun being in love
with someone who doesn't even seem to care that I exist. But I'm not
giving up! I'm going to get noticed! I'm going to shout 'I love you!'
from the highest rooftops!"
"That's the spirit!" Ryoga unscrewed the cap from his water
canteen as he laughed inwardly. 'Darling' just had to be Ranma. Having
yet another girl after him would serve that jerk right -- especially a
girl as pushy as this one seemed to be. "If there's any way I can
help...." He drank from the canteen. The water was warm, but it still
refreshed him.
"Oh, thank you so much!" The girl smiled cutely. "With you on my
side, I'm sure I'll be able to win the love of darling Akari!"
Water abruptly sprayed from Ryoga's mouth in a wide upward arc.
"Akari? Akari Unryu?!" He ran ahead and planted himself in the girl's
path. "But-- you can't!"
The girl stopped and glared defiantly at Ryoga. "Why not?"
"For one thing, she-- she likes MEN!"
"I AM a man!" she -- or rather, he -- proclaimed proudly.
"Tsubasa Kurenai is one hundred percent man! Don't you forget it,
buster!"
"But-- but Akari loves ME! Ever since I defeated her pet
wrestling pig!"
"Her what?"
"Her sumo pig, Katsunishiki. The one she rides around on. Her
grandfather's dying wish was that she marry someone strong enough to
beat it."
"So I would have to...." Tsubasa looked thoughtful for a moment.
"On second thought, darling Akane is the one I really love."
Ryoga's jaw dropped. "What?! How can you switch just like
that?!" He shook his fist threateningly. "You stay away from Akane *and*
Akari! If you weren't a girl, I'd...."
"I told you, I'm NOT a girl!"
Ryoga pondered for a moment. "Oh yeah. I forgot." His kick sent
Tsubasa flying down the block.
With Tsubasa gone, Ryoga paused to get his bearings, if indeed
he could ever have such a thing. He currently stood on a sidewalk at the
edge of a city park, an oasis of green in the vast desert of concrete
and steel. Tall trees flanked a grassy picnic area on one side, with a
small pond on the other. Nearby, a pair of toddlers shrieked with
delight as they kicked a ball around on the lawn.
He couldn't even remember which way he was supposed to go to get
to the Tendo dojo. Damn that Tsubasa! He had probably just pretended to
be after Akari and Akane, to make fun of Ryoga. Maybe he had really been
Ranma in another one of his disguises.
A gleam of light caught Ryoga's eye, the glint of something
shiny in the grass not far from where he stood. Probably nothing
important, he thought; but for some reason he was curious. He walked
casually over.
A small brass heart lay concealed between blades of grass. Ryoga
bent down to pick it up and examine it. There was a seam running around
it; Ryoga tried various approaches but couldn't manage to get it to pop
open.
*One wish.*
The voice had sounded in his head. "What?!"
*I will grant one wish. Choose, but choose well, for I will
grant only one, and once it is made, nothing in the universe may undo it
until it has run its course. What is your true desire?*
"Is-- Is it really true? I can have anything I want? ANYTHING?!"
There was no answer. Ryoga stared intently at the object held
between his hands. Could it be true? Maybe his luck was changing after
all.
***
One wish.
Ryoga sat in the grass, savoring the knowledge. For once, things
were going *his* way. He could have anything he wanted, anything at all.
But what did he want?
He could wish for Akane to love him. Maybe a few months ago, he
would have done that in a second. But after the battle with Saffron,
when he watched Ranma save Akane, he couldn't deny the truth any longer.
Ranma loved Akane. His love had brought her back from the dead, when all
Ryoga had been able to do was to stand there and feel sorry.
Besides, it wouldn't be right to win someone's love just by
wishing for it. Ryoga would always be haunted by the knowledge that he
would never have had her without the wish.
No, Akane would never love him. But Akari did. She wasn't the
girl who he had dreamed of spending his life with, but she was wonderful
in her own different way.
A sense of direction. That would be the sensible thing to ask
for. His inability to get from one place to another had been
responsible, directly or indirectly, for most of the hell that life had
put him through. It was what was keeping him from settling down with
Akari to raise a family.
Yes, that was the sensible thing... to wish for a perfect sense
of direction. Then he could go back to Jusenkyo, and get the cure to his
infernal pig curse.
Except that Jusenkyo had flooded the last time Ryoga had been
there, and the waters had mixed together. Nobody knew what horrors they
would change their victims into now. And even if the pools were sorted
out, Ryoga knew that they couldn't be trusted. Things had gone wrong too
many times for it to be coincidence. No, if he was ever going to be
cured of becoming P-chan, it wouldn't be at Jusenkyo.
"Damn!" he shouted. *Damn this stupid curse!* As long as he had
it, it was inevitable that Akane would someday find out who her pet
really was. He didn't want to see Akane hurt like that. He didn't want
her to hate him for the rest of her life. Maybe he had to use the wish
to be cured. Akari wouldn't like it, but she would understand.
But using the wish that way would mean he'd still be lost all
the time. What kind of life with Akari could he have then?
"Aaaaarrrrgh! What should I wish for?" No matter which choice he
made, it was sure to end up in misery! How could fate play such a cruel
trick on him?
Faint noises rustled from the trees in front of Ryoga. He stood,
tensed, and listened, as they became louder. They sounded like a
stampeding animal knocking down everything in its path.
A huge pig emerged from the trees. A goofy smile frozen on its
face, it slid rigidly toward Ryoga somehow on unbending legs. A voice
sounded from within. "CHARGE!"
Ryoga casually stretched out his arm and struck the pig with his
fist. The ceramic that it was made of cracked like an eggshell,
instantly falling apart and crumbling to the ground, revealing Tsubasa
inside.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Ryoga yelled, still reluctant
to hit someone who looked so much like a woman. "Are you making fun of
me?! Where did you get this pig?"
"The new restaurant down the street. Yamadashi's Bar-B-Que. I'll
do anything to prove my love for darling Akari!"
"Oh, you're back to her now, are you? Don't you have any
loyalty? Your love couldn't be worth much if you can switch just like
that."
"I AM loyal! I only love one girl at a time! And if any of
them...." Tsubasa paused, as his expression seemed to soften somewhat.
"If any of them ever loved me back, I'd stay loyal forever."
Some inner pang of conscience interrupted Ryoga as he was about
to pound the transvestite into the ground. Tsubasa wasn't the *only* one
who had switched from Akane to Akari.
*But...* he thought, *but that-- that was different!* It sounded
absurd even inside his own mind.
"Look," Ryoga said as he unclenched his fist. "I can understand
how you feel. Really. But Akane and Akari aren't going to love you.
That's just how it is. Find someone else, for your own sake."
"You handsome guys have it easy. I bet you could probably have
any girl you ever wanted."
Ryoga tried not to laugh. *If you only knew!*
"Some guys have all the luck." Tsubasa sighed. "I wish I were
the irresistably cute type... the kind that girls just couldn't resist.
I'd give anything for that."
Suddenly, Ryoga felt something in his hand become red-hot. The
wishing heart! "Aaaa!" His fingers snapped painfully open, as the object
flug itself away into the trees.
"Damn you, Tsubasa!" Ryoga screamed. "You stole my wish! You
ruined my one chance for happiness! I'll kill you! I'll ki--" He doubled
over in pain, feeling as if his body were being torn in half.
Then the pain stopped, as abruptly as it had started. Ryoga
lifted himself off the ground and looked around. Tsubasa was nowhere to
be seen.
***
"I could tell you how I got cured, Ranma, but you know what an
inconsiderate jerk I am."
"Huh? Don'tcha know when I'm *kidding?* You're a great guy,
Ryoga. A real friend!"
"Yeah, whatever. Just show me how to get to Akari's farm, okay?"
"Sure! No problem! Hey, want me to carry your pack for you? You
must be tired from all that walking...."
The black piglet watched the two figures recede into the
distance. He snuggled up contentedly against the girl holding him. This
wasn't exactly what he had hoped for -- he couldn't even talk anymore.
But there was no denying how nice it felt to be liked. And this form did
make it even easier to fit into places.
Yes, there were all sorts of possibilities. Maybe darling Akari
would like a new pet!
Chapter 3: Hikaru Gosunkugi
A Sorcerer's Dream
"I read the News Today, oh boy."
- Paul McCartney, _A Day in the Life_
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
A small gathering of people stood around a small grave. Akane Tendo
watched tearfully as dirt showered on the coffin that lay there.
"Sleep well, Hikaru," she whispered.
***
Cicadas buzzed in the humid twilight. Hikaru Gosunkugi strolled
down a private memory lane. The rejections, defeats and failures--they
weighed heavily upon his heart. The normally depressed and the least
understood boy at Furinkan high was truly in a black mood. He was sure
his true love would never notice him, now that her mother was back from
the grave. He walked through a park in Nerima, his thoughts weighty
and dark. Suddenly, Hikaru stumbled and fell to the ground in a heap.
Suddenly, his thoughts came crashing down. He threw his hands
in the air and screamed, "Why can't I be respected!? I wish I was a
powerful sorceror!"
The gods must have been listening to the boy cry for mercy for
such a life. A crack of rolling thunder boomed, startling Hikaru. He
looked up in surprise and drew his knees to his chest, hugging himself
tightly. "Why can't I be powerful like Ranma. I wish I were a
sorcerer, I would prove to Akane Tendo that I was more powerful than
Ranma," he cried softly to himself.
Something seemed to glow at his feet; he stopped to wipe the
tears out of his eyes and leaned forward to look. He saw a locket and
picked it up.
"Your wish has been granted."
Hikaru jumped back in abject terror. He stared at the
luminescent figure that smiled at him, sadly.
"But your wish holds more irony than you know, Hikaru
Gosunkugi. Go now, you are a powerful sorcerer as you wish. You will
find, however, that victory will be bitter."
Hikaru jumped up and ran for dear life.
He ran for what seemed like hours, and suddenly collapsed near
his house to consider what had happened.
Suddenly it became very clear to him. He was a powerful
magician. What started as a giggle degraded into maniacal laughter.
He laughed until his sides hurt at the delicious irony of it all.
He did not realize how ironic his wish would prove.
The next morning, Hikaru awoke on the ground he had fallen
asleep on. He wondered if it had all been a dream. He pointed at a
tree and concentrated. Bringing his hands together, he began
incanting. Suddenly a flash and a ball of fire erupted from his
fingertips, slamming into the tree, bursting into a fiery hell. He
held his hands up and knew. He was a mage. What he had practiced
before was a chicanery of jokes. This, this was power! He would show
Ranma. He would win Akane's love by defeating him.
In the reaches of the unknown, something else heard Hikaru
Gosunkugi's cry for vengeance. It also felt its power, and hatred.
"A delicious combination." It said and began its journey to
find the source of this amusement.
"RANMA SAOTOME!" Gosunkugi's voice boomed. "I have come for
you!"
Ranma looked up from his bowl of miso soup. "Huh?"
"I will defeat you in combat!"
Ranma Saotome looked slightly irritated. It was the second
time this week someone had wanted him dead for some imagined
transgression. Ranma was really sick of it. He peered at the man who
challenged him. "Gosunkugi?" he said in surprise.
"Yes, Saotome, it is I. I come to seal your fate. Akane will
be mine!" With the word 'mine' the heavens crackled with the indignity
Gosunkugi had suffered.
"I don't know what you're talkin' about. Leave me alone."
"I will not be ignored! For too long I have been ridiculed, and
all because of you, Saotome!"
'Couldn't people just leave me alone?' Ranma thought. "Go away.
I don't want to hurt you."
A bolt of lightning crashed and struck the table Ranma sat at,
breaking it in two and setting it on fire. "Fight me, coward!"
Suddenly Ranma realized this was no game. It wasn't the
lightning; he had dodged that easily. It was the look of pure hatred
Hikaru Gosunkugi wore--seething, frothing hatred.
Besides, no one called him a coward and got off easy.
"All right! I'll fight you! Don't say I didn't warn ya!"
'What's up with him,' Ranma wondered to himself.
Hikaru raised his hands, to call down lighting that would smite
Ranma where he stood. As he began the incantation, a voice tore his
concentration.
"Hey, Akane! Ranma's going to fight Gosunkugi!"
"That bully!" she yelled, frothing.
"Hikaru!" she repeated. "Ranma! What are you doing?" Akane
yelled furiously.
"Wait! It's not me, the guy challenged me!" Ranma protested.
"Ranma! How dare you pick on somebody weaker than you!"
"It's not my fault!"
"Yeah, right, Ranma ... Hey!" Akane stopped mid-sentence as
the ground shifted under her feet. "An earthquake?" she asked, her
voice cracking slightly.
Inhuman laughter reverberated at Akane's question.
Asmodeus had arrived.
The three students were showered with dirt as death boiled up
through the earth in the form of a black demon. Power sparked over its
horns crackling with unearthly energy. A sound like the roaring of a
mammoth furnace issued from it--a titanic bellows that issued a
brimstone stench.
"The earth," the grating voice boomed mirthfully, "has nothing to
do with this."
"Who are you?" Ranma shouted at the demon.
"Death." It laughed again, sounding like rocks being crushed.
"If it's a fight you want, you got it!" Ranma shouted
defiantly.
"I come not for you," it rumbled. It looked directly at
Hikaru. "I come for the mage. Your power will be mine, boy."
Hikaru stood like a rabbit caught in a headlight, frozen in
terror.
The demoniac arm lashed out to grab the pitiful human, cowering
before it. "Such power, boy!"
Akane saw the arm swing down to pluck Hikaru like a twenty ton
wrecking ball. In slow motion she saw Ranma dash forward to knock
Hikaru out of the way. As Ranma reached the boy, she watched horrified
as the demon's aim slammed into Ranma. Hikaru and Ranma went flying
and landed in a heap some twenty feet away.
Something must have clicked in Hikaru's brain as he got up, and
slowly dusted himself off. A gleam in his eye said something. It was
the chance to prove himself by defeating this demon.
A sonic boom blasted from Hikaru's outstretched hands and
impacted in the demon, knocking it back slightly.
Asmodeus' laughter boomed over Nerima. "Good! Good! I thought
this was going to be boring. So much more fun if you squirm a bit
before I eat your soul!"
A gout of fire lashed out from Hikaru's fingers and impacted
into the demon. This time, the magical flame scored slight damage on
it.
The demon roared. "That is the first time in ten millennia I
have felt pain. For that Mortal, your death will be infinitely
slower!"
Akane watched all of this with a sick dread; somehow Hikaru had
become powerful, but he was giving his all and it wasn't enough.
The demon swatted Hikaru like a fly and he slammed into a tree
with a crunch. He lay still for a second.
It laughed an evil, horrible sound. "Is that the best you
have, mortal?"
Hikaru got up painfully, blood streamed from a scalp wound
where he had hit the tree. He wiped the blood out of his eyes and spat
out a tooth. He looked up at the demon without fear.
"Good bye, Akane," Hikaru said.
Hikaru, magical reserves depleted, drew on his last vestige of
strength--his life. He gathered his final power into what he prayed
would be the demon's deathblow. "For Akane," he whispered.
A column of pure energy lanced out to spear the spawn of hell
into oblivion. Akane was knocked back by the force of the shockwave.
The last thing she remembered was an inhuman scream that would chase
her nightmares for months to come.
When she came to, Ranma stood over her with a worried look on
his face.
"You okay, Akane?"
"Ye- yes, I'm fine. Where's Hikaru?"
Ranma pointed silently to the broken figure that lay on the
ground.
Akane got up slowly and walked over to where Hikaru's body lay.
She sank to her knees and cried.
The funeral was two days later. The Gosunkugi family stood,
not understanding why or how their son had died. The papers called it
a "catastrophic gas main failure".
Akane's mother stood with her daughter, trying to give her
comfort after the horrible accident. 'If she only knew,' Akane
thought, heartbroken. Strangely, she felt her father seemed to
understand.
The Saotomes were quiet about it, Ranma wouldn't talk about it,
and no one else had witnessed the strange battle in which Hikaru had
sacrificed himself to save Akane and Ranma. It seemed the whole battle
had been for nothing.
She could not tell Gosunkugi's parents that he had died bravely
in battle. They didn't know it had been a battle, and they couldn't
understand. Akane herself didn't understand.
As the pallbearers brought the coffin to the grave, Akane broke
down and cried even harder. She had thought she had cried her last
tear, but a well of them had been unleashed.
Her mother did her best to comfort her little girl.
A small plaque was left on the grave. The stone marker would
not be put down for months. Rain drizzled down in a mist. Akane stood
under her umbrella, clutching a small package. She kneeled down and
carefully unwrapped it.
She lay a single red rose on his grave and walked away.
Chapter 4: Mousse
Clear Sight
"Happiness is as a butterfly which when pursued is always beyond our
grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly may alight upon you. "
-Nathaniel Hawthorne
Mousse stared at the locket in his hands, his mind running over
the day's events. It was an odd jumble of half-baked wishes and plots
to get back at Saotome, and yet it seemed to culminate into the perfect
opportunity to get complete revenge on those who deserved it.
Mousse sighed as his mind went into a mental rewind of the past
twenty-four hours. After the funeral of the Gosunkugi boy, he'd
returned to the restaurant to work his usual shift. Shampoo was as
boisterous and as bubbly as ever, though in retrospect he found it
horribly annoying -- her normally educated Chinese traded for the
flaky, chopped Japanese needed to communicate with her 'airen.'
She'd gone to the dojo, and came back in a huff, her latest and
'greatest' plan to 'win' Ranma's love a complete shambles. She'd tried
the latest craze in aphrodisiacs and tight clothing, hoping to arouse
his interest. It didn't work, as usual. Akane's mother had suddenly
appeared, catching Shampoo off guard. The woman politely showed her
the door, kept the food away from Ranma and asked that she leave before
the police were informed of a trespasser. Completely ironic. Shampoo
had come home a wreck. Something inside her withered at being
confronted by Akane's mother. Something was said, but Shampoo wouldn't
say what.
Mousse scoffed. Shampoo was truly debasing herself just to get
Ranma's attention. It made him sick. In fact, now that he thought
on it, he really didn't find Shampoo attractive anymore. True, Shampoo
was an outrageously physically attractive woman, but he no longer found
her attractive in a mental sense anymore. The Shampoo he loved was
merely a figment of his imagination. Or was it? Sometimes it felt so
much more tangible than an ephemeral dream.
"Mousse?" a voice called in Chinese.
He quickly hid the locket in his robes.
"Come in," he replied as he opened a book to read.
Cologne hopped into the room.
"Mousse, are you feeling well?"
"Of course I'm feeling well. I feel fine," he replied.
Cologne stared at him intently.
"You've been acting oddly today, Mousse. If you have something
planned for son-in-law, I-"
"Please, Cologne. I am not planning anything for the Saotome
boy, nor am I planning on doing anything in the future."
Cologne raised an eyebrow. She could neither detect any hint
of him lying nor see anything that betrayed his complete sincerity.
"I doubt that, Mousse," she replied.
Mousse simply sighed, stared at her in a disapproving way and
turned back to his book. Cologne swung out to strike him with her cane as
usual, but Mousse blocked it, making her frown in disapproval. She chose
not to say anything, and instead, left the room, slightly concerned by
Mousse's new behavior, but at the same time not surprised.
As she looked back over the day, Mousse had acted as he usually
did, pledging his love for Shampoo, and Shampoo in returned the favor with
a punch that sent him flying out into the cityscape. He returned an hour
later, subdued and calm. He simply acknowledged Shampoo with a nod upon
entering, cleaned himself up, and then went right to work. Nothing more
was said, no more pledges of love, no more flowers, presents, or any sign
of his obsessive affection. It was odd, very odd.
Mousse stared at the door of the Tendo dojo with a bit of
apprehension, but easily fought it down. Ever since the incident in the
park, he'd been in much better control of himself, mentally and
physically. Being nervous was something he could deal with easily.
He knocked on the door.
Silence ensued.
He knocked again.
More silence followed.
He was about to knock again when the door opened, a prim lady
staring back at him. She looked as though someone had taken all the Tendo
sisters, thrown them into a shaker, blended them all together, aged the mix
like a fine scotch, and then out had popped this motherly figure standing
before him. It made him feel slightly homesick.
"May I help you?" she asked.
"I'd like to speak with Ranma Saotome," he replied.
"Please come in," she said.
Mousse followed her into the living room and waited calmly.
"Please have a seat," she replied. "I'll bring him in a minute or
two."
Mousse nodded and sat down, taking a look at the room that he had
barreled through many times before, but never really looked at. The
feeling of home that it emitted pleasantly surprised him. It wasn't
unexpected, but the level of subtlety was amazing. He was still looking
at everything when Akane walked in.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised.
Mousse blinked and adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose
before answering.
"I just wanted to talk to Ranma," he replied calmly.
"Is this some challenge?" she asked.
Mousse sighed. He had foreseen this kind of impediment in his
plan, but he really had no other choice but to work with what he had, his
wits. Unfortunately, the response was so expected, he was at a loss for
words to say. The normality of the situation stunned him silent.
"No. Not really," he replied finally.
Akane stopped short.
"What? This isn't some plot to kidnap me and get back at him? I
don't believe it," she replied curiously.
"No, I don't expect you to believe it. I've tried kidnapping you
on occasion, and attempted to kill Ranma on various occasions. I don't
expect you to allow me in your home for any reason. On the other hand,
all I ask is that I have a chance to speak with Ranma," he replied evenly.
It apparently made absolutely no sense to the youngest Tendo. He
didn't expect it to.
"You here to challenge me again, Mousse?" a familiar voice asked
from behind Akane.
Mousse pushed the glasses up onto the bridge of his nose again. I
must get these adjusted at some point, he mused.
"Actually, Ranma, I'm not," Mousse replied as he got up from his
seat. He noticed that the two families were slowly assembling to see what
was going to transpire.
Mousse held out a hand.
"I'd like to put things behind us, Ranma," he replied evenly. "I
realize I've done a number of foolish things in my past, things that I
regret. I think it would be best for me to apologize for any injustice
I've done to you in the past. Granted, I wish you would be so inclined to
do that same-"
"This ain't some trick, is it?" Ranma interrupted as he folded his
arms.
Mousse sighed again.
"This is no trick, I tell you. I am completely serious."
"Shampoo put you up to this?"
"I don't think Shampoo has the required intelligence at this point
to make any kind of manipulative scheme at the level of, say Cologne.
Shampoo is an intelligent girl, in her own right I suppose. However, her
quest to marry you has given her cause to abandon all logic in favor of
emotion."
Ranma stared at Mousse for a moment.
"Hunh?" he finally managed.
"No, Shampoo didn't put me up to this," Mousse replied with a
chuckle.
"Oh," Ranma replied, suddenly confused.
There was a moment of silence.
"Would you like some tea?" Kasumi asked hopefully.
Mousse smiled and nodded.
"You're too kind," Mousse replied.
Nabiki scoffed and went back upstairs with an air of
disappointment, stuffing a small black book into her pocket as she went.
"So let me get this straight," Ranma said in a surprised voice.
"You want to help me get Shampoo off my back?"
"I would not have used that particular image, but yes," Mousse
replied calmly.
"And this ain't no trick?" Ranma asked for the hundredth time.
"No," Mousse replied.
"So what are you thinking of?" Ranma asked.
"I'm thinking of a lot of things, mostly about what to do now that
I have absolute clarity of mind."
"No, I meant about Shampoo!"
Mousse smiled.
"Well, I believe that the first and foremost obstacle is her
excessive infatuation with you."
"I already knew that!"
"Hear me out Saotome. This isn't just any ordinary case of
post-pubescent infatuation with a canonized figure," Mousse said evenly.
"Hunh?" Ranma intoned. Mousse thought Ranma looked near pain as
he processed the previous statement.
"Shampoo is willing to do everything to marry you. If it were
reduced down to simply murdering Akane, she'd try to find a way to do it
and not have you find out. Half of Cologne's secret techniques involve
poisoning by subtle means. You wouldn't want to see it happen," Mousse
continued.
"So what am I supposed to do about it?"
"Well, there are few alternatives," Mousse replied evenly.
"What if you beat me?"
"Being beaten by someone is not an alternative. Shampoo has no
obligation to marry anyone that beats you."
"What if someone else beat her?"
"Then she'd still have to marry you. You were the first to beat
her in combat."
Akane glared at Ranma.
"That was the smartest thing you could have done," she said
sarcastically.
Ranma glared back at her.
"Sexless tomboy," his mouth fired back in response.
Akane's fist went flying out at Ranma face, and he braced for
impact. When he didn't feel anything, he slowly opened one eye. Akane
was staring at Mousse as he gripped her wrist tightly.
"Let go of my wrist!" she growled.
"I would appreciate it if you didn't interrupt, despite his
taunting," Mousse said evenly.
Akane sat back to fume in frustration.
"Wow!" Ranma exclaimed. "You've never done that before!"
"No I haven't. I never expected it before, but now that I'm a lot
smarter than I used to be, I've learned to anticipate things after
analyzing patterns."
"So you think you could beat me?" Ranma smirked.
"No, I'm not as strong as you, Ranma. I could keep myself from
being hurt easily enough, but I doubt I could hurt you. Besides, what
would I gain my flaunting my testosterone level?"
"Hunh?"
"I would not gain anything by acting macho," Mousse said.
"How did you get so smart, anyhow?" Ranma asked bluntly.
"Ranma!" Akane's mother gasped.
Ranma winced visibly. Mousse allowed a small smile to form on his
lips.
"It is a matter that doesn't concern you Ranma. To put it simply,
my wishes came true."
Ranma raised an eyebrow. Akane looked surprised for a moment, but
then smiled knowingly.
"Okay," Ranma drawled.
Mousse shook his head.
"When Shampoo causes problems again, come find me."
"Will you be at the Nekohanten?" Akane asked.
"No, of course not. That place is but a house of pain and dark
memories for me."
"So where are you going to be?"
"I will simply use my curse to my advantage."
"Hunh?" Ranma said again.
"It will be easier to roost as a duck than try to find a place to
sleep as a human. Of course, I might get lucky and have a girl decide to
invite me to sleep with her," he added with a knowing smile.
Ranma grimaced and fumed.
"What's he talking about?" Akane asked. "And speaking of animals,
where's P-chan?"
Mousse looked out across the lake as he paddled about. His mind
was working furiously despite his attempts to clear it. Every waking
moment his mind seemed to be turning over ideas and thoughts, analyzing
them at a maddening pace.
"Enjoying your new gift?" a female voice asked close by.
Mousse turned to look at an innocent face, framed in long black
curls. A long silence passed between them as Mousse stared in shock. A
familiar feeling filled his heart. He blinked and quacked a response.
The young lady reached out from her boat and brought Mousse out of the
water. She set him on the seat opposite her.
"Are you enjoying your new gift?" she asked, snapping him out of
his reverie.
"Quack."
"I know because I granted your wish."
"Quack quack quik quack."
"I don't necessarily have to be a duck. I can be a great many
things, Mousse."
"Quack?"
"No, I'm not cursed by the waters from Jusenkyo."
"Quack?"
"Yes, I am a being of immense power and ability that lives in a
reality so far from your own."
"Quack?"
"I came to you as a duck because you were a duck at the time."
"Quack?"
"Yes, I did have dinner already, though I thank you for the
invitation."
"Quack."
"Do you know why I'm here, Mousse?"
"Quack quack quack quack quack quack quack quik quack quik quik
quack."
The woman laughed.
"Quack?"
"I've forgotten how adorable you can be when you're confused,
Mousse."
The mandarin duck blushed as well as a duck could blush.
"Mousse, I'm here because things have gone far enough for you."
"Quack?"
"No, your wish isn't being revoked. You made a legitimate wish
and while the repercussions are far beyond what I expected, it is
something I can not change."
"Quack?"
"No, I'm fine thank you. Though I appreciate the thought."
"Quack?"
"Well, if you insist, but later. I doubt the manager of any
kissaten would appreciate me bringing a mandarin duck in for coffee. Now
please hear me out Mousse, I've had enough of your flattery and offers,"
the lady admonished gently with a smile.
Mousse blushed again.
"Now, Mousse, as I said before, things have gone about as far as
they should. I overlooked a great many things in granting you your wish."
"Quack?"
"I may be a being of immense power and wisdom, but I have my
shortcomings, just like you. I didn't think in granting your wish that
you would become as advanced as you've become."
"Quack."
"Yes, I know, Mousse. It was just a consequence of your wish."
"Quack."
"Yes, it was a horribly simple wish. A very simple wish indeed,
but it meant so much more than what you said when you had the locket.
"Mousse, you can't stay here anymore. You have to leave this
place."
"Quack?"
"Mousse, you've become so smart now that in due time you will
elucidate answers to questions that have plagued humans since they became
sentient."
"Quack?"
"Yes, Mousse," the woman replied with a soft laugh, "that does
include the recipe for the perfect ramen noodle."
Mousse winked as well as a mandarin duck could wink.
"Mousse, you've become smart enough to know about everything. I
never thought your wish would be so grand but it was, and now you have to
leave."
"Quack?"
"Excuse me?"
"Quack."
"Mousse, that's very sweet of you but you hardly-"
"Quack."
"But Mousse, I hardly think that-"
"Quack."
"Mousse, do you know who I am?"
"Quack."
The woman blushed.
"Yes, I am. I suppose I should have guessed that you would know
who I am by now, but-"
"Quack."
The woman looked at Mousse intently for a moment.
"So be it. You might say you've gotten a second wish granted
Mousse-chan," she replied.
"Quack."
"Yes, you're allowed to tie up loose ends before you go."
"Quack."
"Return here within twenty four hours."
"Quack."
Mousse walked back towards to Tendo dojo purposefully. He had the
perfect revenge planned for Cologne and Shampoo. It was so simple, yet
powerful, much like the wish he'd made. Execution of it would require
only the genius he possessed. That or extreme amounts of luck. On the
other hand, he liked to think that luck was now one of his many skills.
He knocked on the door.
"Hello?" a woman asked.
Mousse recognized her as the Tendo matriarch.
"I have information that you might find useful."
"Yes?" she asked curiously.
"Is Ranma's mother here as well?"
"Why yes she is," the woman replied.
"I'd like to speak with the both of you."
"That's an interesting idea Mousse, but I doubt that either of us
are able to do it," Nodoka said quietly.
Mousse nodded.
"I understand."
"On the other hand, from what I've been told, this has happened
before," the mother of the Tendo daughters replied. "I'm just glad
nothing's been given to my dear Kasumi. It would be something out of a
horror story!"
Mousse smiled.
"It would be unfortunate to see the passion spice used on Kasumi,"
Nodoka agreed.
"If that is all, then I'll be going," Mousse replied.
"Mousse, why are you doing this?"
"Because it's the best way to keep Ranma from being forced into
marrying Shampoo. The antidote for every mind-altering spice known to the
Amazons is in that book, as well as the actual use of the original spices
themselves. If used judiciously, and kept from being stolen by Cologne
and Shampoo, you would be able to thwart nearly every plan known to
Shampoo. Cologne will be tougher, but I've taken care of that. The old
ghoul will forget all about Ranma tomorrow, amongst other things."
The two women nodded as Mousse turned and left.
Nodoka stared at her long-time friend and sighed.
"We're turning into them, aren't we?"
The Tendo matriarch smiled as she leafed through the book and
glanced at the case of spices Mousse liberated from the Cat Cafe.
"No we aren't, Nodoka," she replied with a mischievous gleam in
her eye. "We aren't going to screw up."
Mousse took a long look over the lake as the moon rose into the
sky. He watched the surface of the lake glitter as the moonlight played
across it. The Chinese boy instinctively reached out to grasp the hand by
his side and hold it in a warm embrace.
"I never thought I'd get so much out of making a simple wish."
"Love clouds judgement in even the greatest minds, Mousse," the
woman replied softly. "It makes turns peasants into kings and turns war
into peace."
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"Here and there. Many places all at once. Are you ready?"
"Of course I am."
The woman smiled as the moonlight framed her face in a soft, pale
light.
"You seem a little nervous."
"I suppose this is what they call an out of body experience," he
said with a chuckle.
The woman laughed softly.
"Yes," she replied, "you could say that."
"I love you, you know," Mousse said quietly.
"Everyone loves their guardian angel - at least, everyone should."
"So where have you been all these years? Where were you when I
needed you most?" Mousse asked quietly.
"I've always been with you, here in your heart," she replied as
she gently touched Mousse's chest. "I've always been there for you when
you needed me most. When your heart needed me the most."
Mousse looked from the hand she rested on his chest to her face.
The woman looked back at Mousse and smiled. The long black waves
of her hair rustled gently in the slight breeze. Her slender body
shivered slightly in the air, and Mousse wrapped an arm around her,
enveloping her in a warm embrace. He could smell the lavender in her
hair. She pulled back slightly to gaze into his eyes. The cursed boy
lost himself as he gazed deeply into her eyes as the shimmered in the soft
light.
"Are you surprised, Mousse?" she asked.
"A little bit," he replied honestly.
"I think you were a little more than surprised," she admonished
gently. She giggled quietly. It sounded like soft wind-chimes.
"You look like her," Mousse replied quietly. "Everything about
you looks like her."
"She looked like me," the woman corrected with a wry grin. "You
always knew who the woman you loved was deep in your heart. You just
confused two people that looked the same."
"Only, I chose the wrong one," Mousse said sadly. "I thought she
loved me."
"She never loved you," the woman replied.
"Yes. Why do you?"
"Because I'm your guardian angel, Mousse," she replied as she
caressed his cheek. "You could say it's my job."
"Do you like your job?" he asked roguishly.
"Well, I have to admit it has its advantages," she replied
impishly.
"How about now?"
"Well, of course. We get to work together now."
"How will you be my guardian angel if I'm one myself?"
The lady smiled and hushed him.
"You can figure that one out for yourself," she replied.
"Do I grant wishes?"
"Only if the time comes. Everyone gets a wish sometime in his or
her life. Yesterday was your time."
Mousse looked at the locket in his hand.
"What about the locket?"
"The locket's power is beyond the wish, Mousse. Deep in your
heart, you know what that power is," she replied softly.
"Will Ranma get a wish?"
"I can't tell you that, but I'm sure you can figure that one out,"
she said with a playful laugh.
"Are we off, then?" he asked.
"Yes, but you won't need these," the woman replied as she took
Mousse's glasses off. "After all, you can see now, Mousse-chan. You can
see things as they were meant to be."
"So what do I do, besides my Heart's desires?"
"Would you be surprised if I said, helping a particular aquaphobic
transsexual?"
Mousse chuckled.
"No, not really. Nothing surprises me anymore. Do I get to look
at it as getting back at Shampoo?"
"Mousse!" the woman admonished with a laugh.
Mousse smiled and silenced her with a kiss.
Joggers at the park were surprised to find the body of a man on
the ground, a set of glasses, twisted and broken, by his side. In his
cold hand, a small locket was held tightly. They all gave it a wide berth
as the morning went on. The police were quickly alerted and removed it
early that afternoon. The locket was sent to the person that identified
the body. She became a little morose at the sight of the unmoving form,
but it was of little consequence compared to her great-grandmother's
sudden loss of memory.
Chapter 5: Shampoo
When You Wish
Shampoo was usually a very light-hearted girl, and it had been long
since she had really felt sad. Now, however, she did.
The Tendo mother individually didn't really pose a greater threat to her
plans of marrying Ranma than anyone else, but it was yet another obstacle
on a long, long list, the one that finally made it impossibly for her to
even come see him.
Her great-grandmother had suddenly, mysteriously, forgotten all about
him, which meant that her only real source of plans, ideas and support was
gone. She could only think of one person who could be responsible, but...
...Mousse was dead. He was certainly a nuisance most of the time, but
dead? He sure tried hard, but the guy really couldn't hurt a fly.
There was something that was really odd about the way he'd acted just
before his death. Odd was also the locket he had clasped firmly in his
hand when his body was found.
Shampoo held it from the gold chain, studying the locket as it dangled
in front of her eyes. She didn't know why, but somehow, she had a feeling
it was responsible for all her recent trouble.
She frowned. The locket didn't look like much, really - silver, with a
small crystal, hanging from a gold chain. Mousse had dropped some cryptic
hints to that effect, but Shampoo knew such a simple item couldn't, for
example, grant a wish.
Luckily for her, the locket really, really, really wanted to grant
wishes. The amazon girl nearly jumped out of her bed, in which she was
currently sitting, as her room suddenly and almost instantly filled with
smoke.
The smoke cleared just as swiftly as it had appeared, revealing a
familiar blue shape floating in mid-room. "Ooga-booga!" the Genie shouted
as he put a wide eye right next to her ample bosom, stretching his neck
several feet and drooling slightly.
The neck snapped back as his head assumed a slightly purplish tone.
"<Sorry,>" he told the stunned girl, in a tone that she wasn't quite sure
how to interpret. Luckily, it was a Chinese dub she'd seen.
Shampoo soon regained her senses. While unexpected, this was just the
type of chance she needed right now. "Shampoo get wish now, yes?" she
asked excitedly, habit making her speak in Japanese.
The blue apparition grinned. "<How can I say no to such a nice girl?>"
"<I wish...>" Shampoo stopped to think, but not for long. She knew what
she wanted. "<I wish Ranma would finally marry me!>"
"<Awww...>" The Genie pouted, putting on a jealous face. "<Come on, you
still have a chance to change your mind!>" He inhaled, stretching his
breast to its limit and smiling widely, perfectly white teeth glistening,
reflecting the light from a non-existing lamp.
Shampoo nearly giggled - she'd found the movie quite amusing, despite
her great-grandmother's complaints about American rubbish - but shook her
head sternly. "<I wish Ranma would marry me.>"
The Genie sighed, looking depressed for a moment, but soon waved his
hands in the familiar pattern. "<Your wish has been granted.>" He pulled
out a cellular phone from nowhere, putting it to his ear. "<Yeah ... hmm
... ok, I'll tell her that.>" He turned back to Shampoo. "<OK, my
superiors told me you'll be married in a few days, so just have some
patience.>"
Shampoo smiled blissfully. "<OK, and for my second wish...>"
"<Sorry, girl,>" the Genie interrupted her. "<You only get one. Changed
contract."> He looked at a wristwatch that wasn't there a second before.
"<Well, gotta go now. Pleasure meeting you and all."> He snaked his head
around to oogle her behind for a short moment before disappearing with a
flash, gone just as fast as he'd come.
It was a shame she'd only gotten one - she could've had her poor
husbands curse removed, or something - but still, she had to be grateful
for what she got, and Shampoo's happiness now was a sharp contrast to her
earlier depression. She ran downstairs to tell her great-grandmother, but
found that the old-lady wasn't there.
'Probably just went to buy supplies,' Shampoo thought as she set off on
foot towards the Tendo Dojo, for some reason ignoring her bike. Imagine
how happy Ranma would be when he could finally reveal his true feelings
for her, without having to worry about any of the usual obstacles!
A part of her mind felt there was something fundamentally wrong with
that thought, but she had long ago subconciously decided to shut off all
communications with that area of her brain, which explained a lot about
her behavior.
- * -
"Well, Mr. Saotome," Cologne told the panda, who sat opposite her in the
otherwise empty dojo, "I don't quite recall why, but my granddaughter
seems to have an infatuation with your son, and if she wants him, I'll
make certain she'll get him."
The panda held up a sign. "Hah!" it read. He flipped it around. "We
don't have to worry about your plots anymore!"
She smiled cryptically. "Are you sure?"
"None of your potions will work!" The panda grinned defiantly at her, a
gesture that could be defined as foolishly brave.
"Good thing I wasn't going to try any potions, then." The Amazon elder
pulled out a scroll from somewhere within her robes.
The grin wavered slightly and a few drops of sweat appeared on the
panda's forehead, but still, he was pretty sure they'd have a counter
against whatever magic the scroll contained.
Cologne merely smiled and shook her head. "No, no, no magic, fool. The
contents of this scroll simply prove beyond doubts that some of your
ancestors were Unclean. You know what that means, don't you?"
Acting on instinct, the panda quickly reached out, grabbed the scroll,
and tossed it down its mouth, swallowing audibly. "Look, no scroll!" a
sign proclaimed.
Cologne could easily have stopped him from taking the scroll, but
didn't. "Are you really that stupid?" she sneered. "I have copies, and so
have some of my friends ... back in China." To prove her point, she pulled
out another scroll, rolling it open and shoving it into the panda's face,
so he could see that she had spoken the truth.
More sweat appeared, and the Panda's eyes darted desperately around the
room, as if somehow seeking to escape the whole situation, but it knew it
was futile. He had been beaten once and for all.
"Yes, Saotome," Cologne said, smiling with a twisted sweetness that
looked even more horrible on her aged face. "Being fathered by an Unclean,
and thus equally Unclean himself, your son will never be able to find a
wife. No matter how much love they love him, no girl can ever afford to
destroy her life like that - and believe me, I will make this fact very
publicly known. You Japanese have some interesting customs."
The eyes stopped, finally resting on the little, ancient woman,
desperately pleading for a way to make the horror, the nightmare, go away.
"Of course," she continued, ignoring him, "he could marry my grand-
daughter, and nobody would ever now. After all, I don't want people to
know she married someone considered Unclean - they might want to stay in
Japan."
"And by the way," she added as she rose, crushing the faint hopes that
had slowly begun forming, "I would stay away from stupid thoughts about
running away if I were you. After all, I'll still have the documents,
won't I?"
"I..." The panda hesitated a moment before taking out a new, complete
sign. "I'll go tell him."
"I'll be waiting outside." Again, the sick, sweet smile appeared on the
elder's ancient lips.
- * -
As she neared the Dojo, Shampoo spotted two familiar shapes in the
distance, and increased her pace, soon meeting up with her great-
grandmother and future husband.
He came already? She was about to throw herself at him, announcing her
love to all the world, but something stopped her.
The look in his eyes.
A look of hatred. The hatred of someone who's entire life had been
ruined.
"Come on, granddaughter," Cologne said. "We have a wedding to prepare."
- * -