Hi, everyone! It's taking me a lot longer than I expected to finish WFY
8... and the fact that I have a regularly demanding job doesn't help
matters any...
Anyhow, here's a short preview of WFY 8... there's a lot more to come
after this, don't worry. But I thought I'd get some comments from you
guys about this...
Email me at stiffanie@mail.com for all your comments!
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Disclaimer : Ranma 1/2, and all characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
This fic is written for entertainment and self-fulfillment purposes
only.
Waiting For You
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
by Stiffanie Flores
Chapter 8
Revelations
Cologne looked up as Shampoo came in her room. "You want to see
Shampoo, great-grandmother?" she asked.
Cologne nodded. "I have something for you, child."
Shampoo watched as Cologne reached inside the folds of her robe and drew
out a small crystal vial.
"Here," Cologne said, handing it to her.
Shampoo raised the vial towards the light and squinted curiously at the
clear liquid inside the container. "What is it?"
Cologne drew a long puff from her tobacco. "Chueh Wang poison."
Her gaze snapped back to Cologne, as her fingers automatically tightened
on the little glass bottle. "For what, great-grandmother?"
The old woman gave her a level stare. "To get rid of the obstacles for
Son-in-law's hand. We have wasted enough time dallying around."
Shampoo faltered. "But-"
Cologne reached for her staff. "If you have any other plans, then by
all means, set aside the poison for another day. But then, we have
tried almost everything else, haven't we?"
Without waiting for a reply, she hopped away, leaving Shampoo standing
in her room, staring down at her hands.
****
To kill or not to kill...
Shampoo pedaled slowly, her thoughts drifting back to the poison Cologne
gave her.
It shouldn't be a difficult decision. After all, what's most important
was getting Ranma to marry her and they could go back to the village
together. And since certain obstacles stood in the way of those plans -
the simplest choice was to eliminate them.
Shampoo wasn't afraid to kill. After all, she was the proudest and
bravest of her generation of Amazon warriors. True, she had yet to kill
a fellow human being, but she expected killing would be easy enough...
rather, she was afraid of seeing Ranma's reaction if he ever found out
that she tried to kill Akane.
Shampoo wasn't blind enough that she'd delude herself into thinking
Ranma didn't...care... for the Violent Tomboy. She remembered all those
who had at one time tried to harm Akane - Tarou, Kirin, Toma, Herb, and
most of all... Saffron. She shivered at the memory of Ranma's
relentless fury as he battled the phoenix king for Akane's life...
The thought of having those same blue eyes glare at her with seething
rage and hatred made her blood run cold with fear... because as much as
she wanted to go back to the village with her honor fulfilled by gaining
Ranma as a husband - she wanted him to love her as well.
And she was sure that as soon as she got him away from the Violent
tomboy's influence, he'd finally fall in love with Shampoo, and they'd
go back to the village in glory, and live happily ever after...
Shampoo's mood brightened as she thought of Ranma. He was...perfect.
Strong and handsome and honorable Ranma... she wouldn't dream of
breaking his spirit, like other women did to their husbands back in the
tribe, to exercise their domination over the household.
But Ranma - his fiery spirit and intense determination was what drew her
to him like a moth to a flame. He was glorious in battle, and together,
as wife and husband, they would bring honor to the Amazon tribe like
none other anyone has ever seen before...
Her heart swelled at the thought, and she pedaled faster, eager to see
Ranma again. Surely the decision could wait another day - right now,
she wanted to be with her future husband. Maybe she could even get him
to take her out on a date!
As she neared the Tendo dojo, she spotted Kasumi Tendo sweeping outside
the gatea. "Nihao!" Shampoo called, skidding to a halt beside Kasumi.
"Shampoo come to see Husband!"
Kasumi smiled. Ranma's friends were so polite. "Ranma went with Akane
to the mall, Shampoo," she replied. "Can I get you anything?" One
always had to be hospitable when visitors came calling.
Shampoo clapped her hands together. "Even better! Then Husband can
take Shampoo for date at mall!" She took off on her bike, happily
anticipating her date with Ranma.
****
Shampoo glanced around, confused. Where could Husband be?
A flash of red caught her eye, and she turned. Through the clear glass
of the shop window, she glimpsed a man's back to her, but his broad
shoulders and black pigtail were unmistakable. It was Ranma, standing
beside Akane as she held up a blue dress in front of her.
Shampoo brightened. It would be easy enough to get rid of Akane, then
she would have Ranma for herself.
She stepped aside, out of Ranma's direct line of vision, as the couple
walked out of the store. She started to follow them at a discreet
distance. Maybe she wouldn't even have to bother with Akane. Knowing
them, they should begin fighting anytime now, and Akane would stomp off,
angry again, leaving Ranma alone.
Shampoo smiled as Akane's fist targeted Ranma. She didn't even have to
wait long. Akane should leave soon, and -
She blinked, surprised. Ranma and Violent-Girl were not fighting.
Shampoo watched as Akane punched Ranma's arm lightly, could hear Akane's
voice tinged with laughter as she smiled up at him. "I was only
kidding, Ranma..."
Shampoo failed to hear the rest of Akane's words, as she saw Ranma
return Akane's grin. Her vision reddened, as she watched Ranma allow
Akane to take his arm.
Shampoo's eyes narrowed, focusing on Akane, until the crowd swallowed
them up, obscuring them from her view. "Violent Girl stand in Shampoo's
way too many times," she hissed under her breath. "Shampoo no let
Violent Girl steal Husband. Husband is Shampoo's!"
She whipped around, rage burning within her. Akane would never get
Ranma. Shampoo would kill her first.
Abruptly, she remembered Cologne's surprise. She smiled maliciously,
beginning to contemplate how to put it into good use. She would
eliminate Akane first - after all, she was the biggest obstacle. Any
reservations she'd had about using it had just been wiped out
permanently.
After all, she reminded herself, she'd given Akane the Kiss of Death
months ago, when she first came to Japan. And by allowing her to remain
alive, she was leaving her own honor unfulfilled. Well, it was time to
remedy that.
A tiny voice pushed itself from the depths of Shampoo's mind to put a
damper on her plans. Ranma. He would be furious. He would never
forgive her. He'd never love her...
Shampoo only shook her head and smiled brighter. Ranma would never
know. She'd just have to make sure of that.
She turned and stalked back to the store she'd seen Ranma and Akane
emerge from. As she opened the door, a tinkling bell signaled her
entrance.
The saleslady came and smiled at her. "Good afternoon," she said
brightly. "May I help you?"
Shampoo nodded. "Shampoo want to see blue dress," she said, careful to
make sure the woman understood her intent. "Same dress Violent girl
have earlier."
The woman frowned. "Pardon?"
Shampoo cursed softly in Chinese, which only puzzled the woman more.
Attempting a bright smile, she said, "From window I see girl hold up one
blue dress," she explained. "Girl with short hair, come in with
pig-tailed man."
The woman brightened. "Oh! I see," she exclaimed, leading Shampoo to a
rack filled with colorful dresses. "You must mean this one," she said,
pulling out a dress with a flourish.
Shampoo only smiled. She reached out and ran her fingers along the soft
blue silk. "Yes, Shampoo want this," she said softly. "How much?"
"Tell you what, honey," the woman said, draping the dress over a nearby
chair. "Blue isn't really your color, with your hair and all. Let me
pick you out something more..."
Shampoo shook her head. "No, is fine. Want this one."
"There's this absolutely divine red dress that would show off your looks
to perfection," she rattled on, rapidly flipping through dresses. "Just
let me show it to you, and you'll..."
"No!" The saleslady started in surprise at the sharp voice, and looked
up.
Shampoo forced a weak smile. "I sorry. But Shampoo want this one. I
take it. How much?"
The woman studied the fierce glint in the girl's eyes and decided
against arguing. She headed to the counter to ring up the purchase.
****
"You can take your bath now, Akane," a voice called from inside the
house.
"Thanks, Kasumi," Akane's voice called back.
Hidden by the shadows, a figure lurked outside Akane's window, intently
listening to the sounds of movement in the room. The sound of Akane
rustling through her clothes could be heard, and finally, after a few
seconds, the sound of the door sliding closed.
Cautiously, she peered in Akane's bedroom. The room was empty. Good.
Without making a sound, Shampoo straightened herself and quietly slipped
the window open. She laid the box on the table, leaning against a stack
of books, and slid the glass pane closed.
Hurriedly, she made good her escape. She felt giddy with joy, and she
had an absurd impulse to laugh as she leapt across rooftops. Everything
had gone according to plan. Violent-girl Akane, dense as she was,
wouldn't suspect a thing until it was too late. And using a brooch as a
medium for the poison was a stroke of genius - after all, the poison
worked best when injected directly into the bloodstream. Only the
tiniest drop was needed, and Akane would be dead in three days.
*Ranma,* she thought giddily. *In three days, you will be mine at
last.*
****
"Tell me, Shampoo," Cologne said, looking at her intently. "Have you
done it already?"
She nodded solemnly. "Last night." She smiled. "Violent-girl dead by
day after tomorrow for sure."
Cologne's gaze never faltered. "Really? I only received knowledge that
Son-in-Law is on his way to look for an antidote even as we speak."
Shampoo blinked. Ranma, going to look for an antidote? Then again, she
expected that of him. It was always left up to him to run to the inept
girl's rescue whenever she got herself into trouble.
"But Great-grandmother," she said, "you said no cure for poison, right?"
"Oh, there is," the old woman replied. "But it remains secure in our
village."
"Then, there nothing to worry, great-grandmother," Shampoo said. "When
Ranma come home, Akane dead. Is all."
"Then Ranma will be yours, is that it?"
Shampoo nodded happily. "Then we go home to village,
great-grandmother."
Cologne nodded. "Fine." She paused. "It is good Son-in-Law does not
suspect us, Shampoo."
The girl only smiled. "Shampoo make sure of that, great-grandmother."
"One word of advice, though." Shampoo waited expectantly for Cologne to
continue. "Wait a few days before going to see Ranma. It is good that
he does not suspect anything, but he will be furious when the Tendo girl
is dead, and they will likely think of us as the culprits..."
"Great-grandmother," Shampoo interrupted, "when Violent girl dead, Ranma
is Shampoo's. Is all." She tried to smile. "Shampoo no worry."
Cologne's eyes bored into hers. "Remember Saffron, child."
Shampoo fell silent, as Cologne voiced out her worst fears. Finally,
Cologne sighed. "No matter. Ranma will be ours soon. But be prudent
in your actions for the next few days, Shampoo. Soon, we will go home,
and we can put this all behind us."
She nodded. "Shampoo understand, great-grandmother." So, she couldn't
see Ranma for a few days. It was little enough a sacrifice - after all,
Ranma would be hers for sure. By next week they'd be back in the
village, and she could reclaim her position as the most promising Amazon
warrior of her generation, especially since she was going home with her
husband, *the* best warrior of their generation, bar none. Even
great-grandmother said so.
Shampoo smiled happily as she headed to the kitchen to do the dishes.
****
Cologne sat alone in her room, composing a letter to be addressed to the
village Council.
It was really such a consuming task, she thought, staying in Japan to
help Shampoo gain her husband. And through all this time, she still
kept herself up-to-date with the happenings in the village. As a member
of the council, she was required to do so, and to give her vote in any
important decisions the village made from time to time.
She'd been very patient with Ranma, giving him time to make up his mind
and finally make the right decision to go back to the village with them,
even though her instructions had been to bring him back through any
means necessary.
Ranma truly was an exceptional fighter, Cologne mused, and the biggest
reason for that was his indomitable spirit and determination. And
breaking his spirit would mean the undoing of such a great fighter. And
they could not afford that, for people like Ranma were so rare these
days.
Shampoo had truly chosen well. Ranma was...special. Like a diamond in
a bag of peanuts, he shone brighter than any of the other stars in the
galaxy. Cologne knew with a certainty Ranma would be the best - the
only reason Cologne herself was still better was because she had a
century of experience on her side. Given time, Ranma would be better.
So much better.
Cologne sighed quietly to herself, as she put aside her ink and paper.
It really was too bad, she mused, that Shampoo came too late. By the
time Shampoo arrived in Nerima, Ranma had already been too involved with
the Tendo girl. He didn't even defeat Shampoo in formal combat - it had
been to protect Akane that he'd kicked the bonbori out of Shampoo's
hands. And the fact that Shampoo had been out to kill his female form
before did nothing to endear her to him.
It had been a huge mistake to let Ranma have all this time to make up
his mind, but Cologne had realized it too late. The more time he spent
with Akane, the deeper his feelings for her went. Half the time he got
into these adventures, it was to rescue the inept girl and bring her
back safely.
Now, Cologne realized there simply wasn't any other way to bring Ranma
back to the village. Akane had to be eliminated. Only then would
Shampoo stand a chance to win Ranma.
Besides, love or no love, they had to bring Ranma back. They had
absolutely no choice in the matter. Of course, it helped matters a lot
that Shampoo was so taken with the young Saotome.
Cologne reached for an envelope on the desk, and slipped the folded
letter inside. This time, she had good news for the council. With
Akane out of the way, they'd be back in the village in a few days.
The sound of the front door slamming into its frame startled her, and
she looked up, realizing Shampoo should be home. Odd, the girl had
never been this violent before, except when she was furious. But Mousse
had been conspicuously absent these few days, so why...
Another crash rang out in the silence, the sound of a glass pitcher
breaking against the tile floors, and Cologne reached for a staff,
anxious to find out what was going on.
Cologne opened her door, in time to see Shampoo come up the stairs. She
was shaking uncontrollably, and the trail of tears on her face was
unmistakable. She dashed into her room, slamming the door closed behind
her. From where she stood, Cologne could hear the sound of anguished
wailing coming from behind the closed doors.
A grim premonition building up inside her heart, she turned the knob and
hopped into her great-granddaughter's room.
The girl was lying facedown on her bed, clutching her pillow tightly as
she wept brokenly, tears leaking out from her closed eyes.
"What is it, child?" she asked from where she stood. "Didn't you go see
Son-in-Law today?"
The wailing increased, and Cologne winced. Something was wrong. Tendo
Akane didn't die? Ranma had been able to save her life? A
disappointment, true, but they could always try again, and use more
drastic means next time. That wasn't enough reason for Shampoo to be so
distraught...
"Shampoo," she tried again. "What happened? Did you speak to your
husband?"
The wailing stopped abruptly, and Shampoo raised her head to look at
her, her lips quivering, her eyes wet with tears. Cologne returned her
gaze levelly. Finally, she burst into laughter. Cologne blinked,
surprised.
"Speak to husband?" Shampoo said, still laughing. "Yes, Shampoo go to
see Husband, tell him we go home now, yes? Surely he say yes now,
violent girl dead, he free to come to Shampoo now..."
Cologne watched anxiously, as the laughter dissolved once again into
tears. Shampoo collapsed against the bed, her slim shoulders trembling
as she sobbed into her pillow.
"Ranma is dead, great-grandmother." Cologne stiffened, the words
driving a stake into her heart. "Shampoo go to house, Akane sister say
so herself. Ranma die... he die because of Shampoo... Shampoo kill
husband... Ranma! Shampoo sorry, Ranma..." The words trailed off into
more tears.
Ranma - dead? But how...when...what...
Whatever were they supposed to do now?
Cologne closed her eyes, her hand tightening on her staff. This was
bad. Very, very bad.
With her back turned towards the door, she didn't notice Mousse standing
outside, his gaze intent on Shampoo's quietly trembling figure, before
he turned and silently crept down the stairs.
****
*How could you?*
He wandered the streets aimlessly, with no destination in mind, no
purpose guiding his heart.
*How could you leave him?*
He came to an intersection and paused, confusion written on his face.
Left or right? It didn't matter either way. It didn't make a difference
to him. As long as he got as far away as he could. For what else was
left for him here?
He turned left and trudged on, ignoring the hungry growling in his
stomach, and the protests of his tired, aching feet.
*How could you leave him to die, Ryouga?*
His eyes began to fill with angry tears, though to whom the feeling was
directed, he didn't know. Ranma? Or himself? OR was he cursing the
heavens again, for bestowing him such ill luck?
Ranma was dead. His rival, his arch enemy, the bane of his existence.
Finally, he wouldn't have to live in the shadow of the man who'd caused
him such misery.
So, why wasn't he leaping for joy? Why was there a heavy feeling in his
heart, like he'd just lost a part of himself? Why was he torn apart with
grief, when there was nothing to feel sorry about, when Ranma was dead,
and could no longer cause anyone any more pain?
Because it was all a lie, he knew. And he could see it now, crystal
clear. A lie which never existed except in his mind, as he sought peace
in the arms of an innocent, trusting girl. And because Ranma had so
often destroyed that blissful peace with a few careless words, or tried
to separate Ryouga from the one thing that brought him true joy... he'd
sworn revenge over and over again, for making his life hell, for hurting
Akane so with his callous comments...
His burning desire to defeat Ranma and prove himself blinded him to
everything. For how many times had Akane whispered Ranma's name as she
slept? How often had Akane been so worried about Ranma, or angry at
Ranma, or... no matter what she felt, the feeling was *always* directed
at Ranma...
And who should know it better than him? P-chan, Akane's most trusted
confidant, privy to her innermost secrets and hidden desires... and
despite everything, he *chose* to blind himself to reality, continuing
to blunder on his quest for revenge, not realizing that he was only
delaying the inevitable, only setting himself up for even more pain,
more heartbreak, more agony...
Ah, nothing like coming face to face with the truth. He should be
relieved, like a burden had just been released from his shoulders. After
all, doesn't the truth set one free?
Not like this. Not when it almost cost two lives to open his eyes to
reality, to wake up from the dream he'd been living for too long. Ranma,
slowly bleeding to death in the forest... and Akane, slitting her wrist
with a sharp knife...
How could he live with himself now, he wondered. How could he ever live
with the knowledge that he could have prevented all this tragedy, if
he'd only listened to his gut feeling and gotten Ranma to help before it
was too late?
Before, it would have been too easy to blame Ranma. Ranma asked him to
go. He demanded Ryouga to go on ahead and leave him alone. He only did
what he was asked to do. Why blame him?
Yes, that was the easy way out. He could absolve himself from all the
blame, and still be able to call himself Akane's friend.
But that was before. Before Akane tried to kill herself, letting Ryouga
realize the huge consequences of his actions that fateful day. And now
he realized that it was Ranma who kept the delicate balance that held
them all together, and without him, everything slowly began to fall
apart...
And now, he had to move on as well. What else was left for him here in
Nerima, when the only people who held him here were lost to him forever?
Ranma was dead, and so was the desire for vengeance.... and Akane... she
was lost to him as well. How could he ever face her again, after
everything that has happened?
He shuddered as he remembered Akane's fists hammering relentlessly on
his chest, her anguished cries ringing in his ears, as he stood helpless
against her attack. She hated him - she made that clear enough. And
though the knowledge broke his heart into a million tiny pieces, he had
to let her go.
Why should he still hold on to something he knew he could never have?
*Goodbye, Akane,* he thought sadly. *I hope you can forgive me,
someday...*
He rubbed his eyes on the sleeve of his shirt, sniffling softly as he
walked. Suddenly, his foot caught on something, and he tripped,
stumbling a few steps. He turned around, surveying his surroundings,
searching for even the faintest clue for where he was...
He looked up, and his eyes focused on a sign above his head. Ucchan's.
Ukyou's restaurant.
He almost smiled at the irony. It almost made sense, in a twisted sort
of way. Again, he thought to himself that Ranma really *was* the only
thing that was holding them all together. For what else did they have
in common, but a young man named Ranma Saotome, who had touched each of
their lives so deeply? And his death would cause so much pain, too
much...
Ukyou was just the next name on the list. Who would be next? What
would happen of them now that Ranma was truly gone from their lives
forever?
He didn�t know. But oh, how he wished he didn�t have to be the one to
do this...
How to say it? Hi, Ukyou? Yeah, I�d like an okonomiyaki. No pork,
please. Oh yeah, did I tell you? Ranma�s dead... how? Oh, I left him
to bleed to death in the forest...
Straightening his shoulders, he stepped inside the restaurant. He was
an emissary of bad tidings, it seemed. And whether he liked it or not,
he had to do his job.
****
(to be continued...)