Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Balance of Power ❯ Journey-Morning Visit ( Chapter 9 )

Journey

Chapter 3

Morning Visit

Shampoo sighed dejectedly and walked into the Cat Cafe. She sat down heavily on a chair and muttered something under her breath as Cologne approached her.

"What is the problem granddaughter?" Cologne asked.

Shampoo looked up and shrugged her shoulders. "I not know."

"Oh come now Shampoo, you should know by now that I can easily tell when you are lying to me. Now tell me what's really wrong."

"Shampoo miss Ranma great-grandmother," Shampoo said.

"Why is that? You just saw him yesterday didn't you?" Cologne asked her.

"Yes but, Ranma does not treat Shampoo like he normally do," Shampoo told Cologne. "Ranma used to treat Shampoo like more than friend but now he treats Shampoo just like normal person."

"Is there something really wrong with that?" Cologne asked, knowing what the answer would be.

"Of course!" Shampoo cried. "Shampoo love Ranma, and he doesn't love Shampoo. Instead Ranma love stupid pervert girl Akane."

"You know this for sure?"

"Yes," Shampoo answered sadly, "I see the way Ranma fight for Akane at Jusendo, he fought with love and determination, and he fought for Akane. He always fight for Akane, never Shampoo."

"I would be interested in hearing just what Ranma and Saffron's fight was like," Cologne told her.

Shampoo's face suddenly became very soft; as if she was describing something that she would much rather forget.

"Oh, you should have seen him fight great-grandmother, he was beautiful. It was the most magnificent fight I had ever seen, it also worst fight Shampoo ever seen too."

Shampoo began to softly cry. Cologne did not move to comfort her or to shake her out of her foolishness. Cologne still held some of her Joketsuzoku tribal beliefs and sympathy was not an emotion to be displayed openly. Neither was weakness, but it seemed Shampoo had forgotten that.

"Does this mean you are giving up on Ranma?"

"Shampoo no know, maybe Ranma realize Shampoo is truly better and come to Shampoo."

"I would not bet on that Shampoo," Cologne told her. "Beauty and brains do not always sway a man's heart. Ranma especially; you know as well as everyone else that Ranma could rival any woman in this world for beauty in his cursed form. He is also one of the most powerful martial artists in the world. So I do not know just what it is that has made Ranma fall in love with Akane, but I don't doubt for one second just how strong that love is."

Shampoo silently wept when Cologne finished talking. Her shoulders shook continuously as each sob extenuated throughout her body.

"Shampoo, would you be willing to go back to China without having Ranma?" Cologne asked.

Shampoo shrugged her shoulders. "What Shampoo supposed to do if she no has Ranma? What will happen to Shampoo if she does not come back with Ranma?"

"At the worst exile," Cologne said.

"Exile!" Shampoo shrieked.

"Calm down, that would only happen if every member of the council feels that you have failed in your quest. I don't think I need to remind you that I am the matriarch of our village, so I carry a great amount of sway in the votes. Another factor working in your favor is what happened when we first thought you had failed to uphold out laws. Your trip to Jusenkyo for failing to kill Ranma was a mistake on the council's part. So with all of these things working in your favor, the worst you'll probably get is a loss of status for a year and forced labor."

"That not so bad," Shampoo said.

"Having your hair cut to shoulder length and having to do menial tasks is quite a bargain in our tribe Shampoo. You should consider yourself lucky that you're getting off so lightly," Cologne told her.

"Does this mean we be going home soon?" Shampoo asked.

"No," Cologne shook her head, "I don't think we should leave just yet. Not with all the stuff that has been transpiring with Ranma and Ryoga. Also, I kind of like it here."

Shampoo smiled. "Yes, this place grows on you."

"Come child; let us depart for the Tendo household."

===============

"Wow! This suite is huge," Akane said she walked into their hotel room.

"You wouldn't think that I would stifle you guys and go for some second rate hotel did you," Seiji laughed. "This is the Jianguo hotel chain, top hotel in Beijing I always said."

"Really?" Akari asked as she walked in, admiring the view.

"Now," Seiji said, clasping his hands together. "How about you guys go and unpack and then you can call your families."

Akane seemed elated at that idea and rushed into a room and dumped the contents of her suitcase onto the bed and dashed for the phone.

Seiji turned and looked at Ranma. "And here all this time you've been calling her slow."

Akane quickly asked the desk to put her through to Tokyo. She dialed her number and waited as the phone rang.

She only had to wait a few rings before someone picked up.

"*Hello, Tendo residence.*"

"Kasumi! Its Akane," Akane said happily into the phone.

"*Akane! Where are you? Is everything okay? Why did you leave in the middle of the night?*"

Akane laughed as Kasumi launched a hundred questions her way.

===============

Over in Nerima it was pure confusion at the Tendo house. Everyone was standing around Kasumi asking her questions as she asked Akane questions who in turn could only laugh.

"Are they safe Kasumi? Where are they?" everyone asked.

Kasumi turned around and gave them a little smile. "That is what I am asking her right now."

She turned back to the phone and waited for Akane to stop laughing.

"*I'm sorry Kasumi, that was just really funny. Everyone is fine over here.*"

"And where is here?" Kasumi asked.

There was a long pause before Akane spoke again. "*Kasumi, I can tell you where we are but I wont be able to tell you where were going. Were in Beijing*"

===============

Back in the hotel room, Ranma, Ryoga, and Akari were determining the sleeping arrangements.

"Akane and I will take this bed, and you and Akari can have the bed in the other room," Ranma said.

Ryoga shook his head. "No way Ranma, if for some reason you want this bed, then there's got to be some way that it is better than the other one."

"Ryoga," Ranma said gently, "I thought that since we've decided to become friends, you were going to try and stop thinking that I'm always out to ruin your life."

The conversation went downhill from there and the two soon began to fight. Akari poked her head into the room and smiled.

"May I ask you guys something?" Akari asked.

"Sure," they both replied, releasing each other from the headlocks they had previously placed each other in.

"Why do you think that Akane and I are going to sleep with you?"

Ranma and Ryoga stared at her, mouths agape.

"But in the hospital-" Ryoga started.

"That was then Ryoga," Akari interrupted him. "I think sleeping in the same bed would do you two some good."

"That's right," Akane said, walking into the bedroom. "You two obviously still have some problems that need some working out and maybe sleeping together will help that."

Ryoga looked over at Ranma and saw the same horrified expression that must have been on his own face.

"Are you finished with the phone now?" Ranma asked, irritably.

"Yeah, but Seiji wanted to talk to our parents about something or other," Akane told him.

Ranma shrugged and left Ryoga to try and reason with the girls. He found Seiji sitting in a chair by the phone with a grave expression on his face.

"I understand doctor, I will talk to the others about that and maybe we can get him some help but, we are going to be moving very fast the next few weeks and what we do get him probably wont be of much help."

Seiji turned and saw Ranma. "Alright doctor Ranma just walked in so I'm going to have to go. Thank you for telling me all this," Seiji turned and looked at Ranma. "You can talk to your family now Ranma."

Seiji handed Ranma the receiver and said he was going for a walk to clear his mind. Ranma thumped down on the chair Seiji had previously occupied.

"Hello," he said into the receiver.

"*Ranma?*"

"Hey mom," Ranma said in a way of greeting.

"*Are you really in Beijing?*" Nodoka asked.

"Yeah mom, we got in about two hours ago."

"*Are you okay?*"

"Fine," Ranma breathed. "How is everything over there?"

Nodoka's laugh could be heard. "*You're father and Soun are taking it upon themselves to get drunk beyond normal comprehension. Nabiki is getting ready for school, and I was finally able to convince Kasumi and Dr. Tofu to go out on a little date.*"

Ranma chuckled into the phone. "Oh man, I sure hope that Dr. Tofu doesn't have any patients today."

"*Why is that?*" Nodoka asked, confused.

"Because whenever Dr. Tofu sees Kasumi he kind of loses control over whatever rational thoughts he might have had. He dances around and starts saying really weird things."

"*That reminds me of how your father acted the first time he asked me out on a date,*" Nodoka laughed.

"I'm never going to understand how you could have gotten married to a guy like pop," Ranma said.

"*I suppose I could ask you why you're in love with a girl that hits you all the time, and you constantly insult?*" Nodoka asked gently.

"I-I don't love Akane," Ranma protested. His attempt at sounding convincing failed miserably.

"*Oh, of course Ranma,*" Nodoka said.

Ranma realized his mother didn't believe him and no matter what he could come up with, she still wouldn't believe him.

"Never mind," Ranma said, shaking his head to clear it. "Now, can I ask you something?"

"*Go right ahead son,*" Nodoka said.

"Why are pop and Mr. Tendo getting drunk at six-thirty in the morning?"

Ranma could hear the silence on the other end.

"*I'm sorry Ranma, I just realized I've got breakfast on the stove and I still have to clean the house,*" Nodoka said hurriedly.

"Wait, mom why are they drinking?!" Ranma shouted.

"*Sorry Ranma, got to go. I love you,*" the line clicked.

Ranma sighed and replaced the receiver. "I love you too mom."

===============

Nodoka sighed as she walked into the kitchen. She hated lying to her son, but telling him that Soun and Genma were having a celebration (making the sure that no one outside the house found out about it, as was Dr. Tofu's orders) due to their children's proclamation of love for each other, would not bode well with Ranma.

It's so strange, Nodoka thought. Ever since she had finally met her son, and come to live with the Tendo's, her life had been more eventful in the few months she had lived there, than in the last decade. She was also much happier than she had previously been. Being reunited with her son and husband was something anyone would be happy to be. Her husband was still the man that she had married. The fact that he now turned into a panda didn't really make a difference, besides, he acted more like himself in panda form.

Nodoka was snapped from her thoughts when she heard someone knocking on the door. She rushed to go answer it.

"Shampoo, what a wonderful surprise," Nodoka said once opening the door.

"Nihao Mrs. Saotome," Shampoo said, her voice not as enthusiastic as it traditionally was. "Shampoo hope you no mind we come visit."

"It's no trouble at all," Nodoka smiled as she stepped back to allow Shampoo into the house. "And who is this with you?"

"This great-grandmother, she is matriarch of our Amazon village," Shampoo said proudly.

"Pleased to meet you," Cologne bowed.

"It is an honor to meet you," Nodoka returned the bow respectively.

Cologne had never met Nodoka, but she found herself instantly liking the woman. Though she did question the woman's intelligence, because what normal woman would actually willingly marry Genma Saotome.

"So what brings you here?" Nodoka asked as she led them through the house.

"Actually were here to see Ranma," Cologne said. She stopped when she saw Nodoka instantly tense. "What's wrong?"

"Um, why don't you two go sit down and I'll get some tea."

Cologne and Shampoo stared at each other as Nodoka ducked into the kitchen. Nodoka returned with a tray of tea and a small folded note.

"So," Cologne began, "Where is Ranma?"

"Here," Nodoka handed Cologne the note, "This will be able to explain things better than I can."

Cologne read the note, then read it again a little more carefully.

"Is this note for real?" Cologne asked as she handed said note to Shampoo.

"I'm afraid it is," Nodoka replied sadly.

"Aiyaa," Shampoo exclaimed as she finished reading.

Nodoka poured them some tea and handed them each a cup.

"It seems fate is determined to have chaos control Ranma's life," Cologne observed, no trace of humor in her voice.

"Yes," Nodoka agreed quietly.

"So where did Ranma and the others go?" Cologne asked.

"Actually I just got off the phone with Ranma," Nodoka told them. "And he told me that they were in Beijing."

"They in China!" Shampoo shouted.

Cologne paused to digest all the information given to her.

"Does this mean that they are going to try and go to Jusenkyo?" Cologne asked.

"I don't know," Nodoka admitted. "Akane had said that they couldn't tell me where they were in case our phone lines were being tapped."

"Ranma and Ryoga have managed to get themselves into one big heap of trouble," Cologne noted. "I suppose the question now is what we can do to help."

"What do you mean?" Nodoka asked.

"Well, according to that note, anyone associated with Ranma or Ryoga are now in danger of being attacked by whatever these people are. And I for one am not one to sit by and wait for someone to attack me. So what were going to do is track down these people and either turn them over to the police or the man that Ranma and Ryoga are working for. I think that if we do this it will also help to get some of the heat off of the others so they can get to Jusenkyo faster."

"But I don't know anything about what your talking about," Nodoka said.

"Do not worry, I'm going to help you," Cologne declared.

===============

Author's notes: This chapter was hard, much attributed to the fact that I originally wrote it with only two hours before my plane left for Fort Bragg. Luckily, the plane didn't leave without me. The pilots were a little wary of leaving a Lieutenant Colonel behind. Writing the dialogue for Nodoka was not easy, as she is one of those characters that almost never shows her feelings outright. She keeps them inside, and will always treat strangers with respect.