Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Bitter Heartbreak ❯ Getting Ready ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2. Never have, never will…..

Bitter Heartbreak

Ranma groaned in frustration as he got up and headed back towards the dojo. He held his head as he felt a headache begin to form. `Now both of them hates my guts….This ain't fair. I date one of them and it turns out that she wants to make the other jealous. Dammit! And then I dump that one as the other one runs off….But then it turns out that the other one doesn't want anything to do with me because she thinks of me as a lyer…. And now…Now…UGH!!!' Ranma felt his head beginning to get dizzy.

Ranma looked down at the ground and began kicking some rocks that got in the way. He sighed in frustration as his headache became worse when he tried to say stuff more clearly. `How the hell am I gonna find out which one I like more anyway? I already had a date with Akane….sorta….and then I found out the only reason she went out with me was because she wanted to make Shampoo jealous…..Shampoo wasn't even supposed to find out that I went out on a date with Akane. That's why she won't trust me anymore when I say that I like her….Damn…My life is so screwed… I was supposed to ask Shampoo to go out with me tomorrow and we woulda had a fun time…'

Ranma began to think of what the Old Ghoul said to him. Once he thought about not being bounded to Shampoo it made him wince. He groaned again. `And not to mention that that Old Ghoul said that I ain't her fiancée makes it worse……HOW THE HELL AM I GONNA GET HER TO DATE ME NOW!!!!!!?????' Ranma screamed in his head.

Ranma snarled and kicked a rock, making it fly and cut through several trees in the process. He began to stomp as he entered the Nerima district.

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

Meanwhile, Akane was looking for some practice dummies to ease her anger. She looked outside and sighed. `Dumb Ranma. He always gets in my way. I just wanted to have a little fun by running Shampoo's face into the ground…….' Akane sighed again and continued to look outside, forgetting about the practice dummies she was looking for to cool off her anger. `Tsch. I can't believe that idiot! He chose her instead of me! That….that…AGH!!! I WANNA STRANGLE BOTH OF THEM WITH MY OWN BARE HANDS!!!!!!'

Akane threw her fist at a nearby wall. Once it made contact, Akane withdrew her fist and hissed in pain. She looked at her hand. It was red and starting to get puffy, but what was even more interesting was that the wall she hit was now cracked. It made Akane smile a little bit when she saw the crack in the wall. `Too bad that wasn't Shampoo though…' Akane thought with a faint devious grin on her face. She looked up at the sky. `Heh, its still nighttime…'

Akane looked around when she heard heavy footsteps coming around the corner. Intently, she flicked her eyes towards the opening of the yard and saw that Shampoo was there. Akane's anger began to rise again, but it died away when she noticed how Shampoo looked. Her eyes were downcast, her face and clothes were all messed up, her footsteps were heavy, and it seemed like she was just through a lot by the way her eyes were unfocused.

It almost made Akane grin when she saw the mighty Amazon in a glum mood. `There's something I want to see every day.' Again, Akane looked around herself and found a rock on the ground. She grinned when she picked it up and aimed it right at the Amazon. Once she targeted Shampoo's head, Akane threw the rock with all her might. Akane waited until Shampoo would turn her head and begin to get angry with her.

She was disappointed with the results though. Instead of having the Amazon turning her head when she was hit with the rock, all she did was continue on her way like nothing had happened. Akane growled and glared at the Amazon as she continued walking towards the Neko Hanten with a dazed look in her eyes. Then, she was out of Akane's eye view.

Akane scratched her head in confusion. `Why didn't she do anything? I wanted to get a rise out of her so I could beat the living hell out of her….' Akane suddenly had a wide grin on her face. `I bet I know what happened now. Ranma dumped that bimbo for me!' Akane thought happily. `I knew he wouldn't want her for himself. The way she looks proves it……hmm….But that doesn't take him off the hook. He said that our date was over and that he'd rather have her than me……hmph!…Well that's just fine with me! I can make that jerk beg just to go out with me again! I'll make him crawl back to me!' Satisfied with her answers, Akane went inside.

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

As Shampoo continued on her way to the Neko Hanten, she looked at the ground with a far off look on her face. Then, suddenly she turned around and snapped out of it. `That bitch is lucky I didn't do anything to her. But if she keeps that up…..' She trailed off with an evil look on her face. Then she blinked twice and thought about her actions while stopping dead in her tracks. Her eyes slightly closed. `What the hell? Why not now? I mean, I can hurt her since I have no claim to Ranma right? I heard what Great-grandmother was saying earlier to Ranma. He has no claim to me and I have no claim to him anymore. I can go back home…' The thought of that alone made her have an emptiness in her stomach. She looked back to the Tendo dojo and felt her hands clench.

Again, she smiled…. It was a bitter smile, but it was a smile nonetheless. Then, without warning, Shampoo turned on her heel and marched back towards the dojo. `I guess it really doesn't matter…Plus, I need to get rid of some of my stress….'Shampoo grinned a little continuing on her walk. About halfway there, Shampoo suddenly stopped. A frown emitted from her face. `I can't do that…*sigh* I may not like her, but I don't think that I hate her either. And it's not exactly like an Amazon to strike an opponent without giving a warning first….*sigh* I can't believe this. Being in Japan's made me soft. Too soft for my liking. Damn it…..And also……,' Shampoo scowled as she said this, `I don't think that attacking my former Airen's….lover…is going to help any. He'll just get angry with me again…….*sigh*' Shampoo shook her head and reversed her direction.

Shampoo looked towards the ground as she walked back towards the Neko Hanten. Once she neared the Neko Hanten, Shampoo looked up and walked in through the door with a dejected look on her face. Cologne was sitting by the counter reading a book while she was waiting for Shampoo to return. Once she heard a bell ring that signified that someone entered the Neko Hanten, she looked away from her book to Shampoo with a greeting.

"Ah, finally you're back Great-granddaughter. I was getting worried about you." Cologne said with care. Shampoo looked at her Great-grandmother and sat down on a chair before burying her head in her arms on a table. Cologne looked at her heir in concern before po-going over to Shampoo. `I was hoping that Ranma patched things up at least a little bit. Ah well….A little challenge never hurts the boy.' Cologne inwardly grinned. `If only you knew what I was up to Great-granddaughter…'

Once Cologne got near Shampoo, she layed her hand on Shampoo's shoulder. To her surprise, Shampoo wasn't wracking with silent sobs, but she was stiff and silent. Cologne sighed and began rubbing her hand on her heir's shoulder in a circling motion trying to sooth the girl. Shampoo didn't seem to respond to any of it though. She just stayed silent and stiff to the old woman's touch. Again Cologne sighed. She recoiled her hand and sat down on the table.

Once that was accomplished, Cologne looked at her Great-granddaughter for a moment. "Well Great-granddaughter? Don't just stay there. Come and tell me what happened." Cologne looked at Shampoo questioningly when she didn't respond to her. For a moment it was silent and then she heard a muffled reply. <I don't want to talk about it right now Great-grandmother. I just wish to go to bed,> Shampoo said with no emotion whatsoever. Shampoo looked at her Great-grandmother then, and what Cologne saw wasn't something she ever wanted to see on her Great-granddaughter's face: defeat. Cologne looked at her Great-granddaughter in the eyes for a moment before she turned away, not wanting to see that look on the formerly happy Amazon.

The older Amazon waved towards the stairs. "Go on then, but we WILL talk tomorrow in the morning." Cologne said in an exasperated tone. Shampoo nodded at her granny and got up. She began to walk away from her Great-grandmother, but turned back to her with a question in her head. Cologne looked at her, even though she was unable to look in Shampoo's eyes. "What is it Great-granddaughter?" Cologne questioned. Shampoo looked down for a moment in uncertainty before looking back at her Great-grandmother. <I was wondering…..Is my engagement to Ranma really off?> Shampoo asked.

Cologne looked at her heir closely before answering. "Yes. I could not permit him to….string you along…It's not something that any of the Amazons will allow." She said in confidence. Shampoo, however, didn't seem all that confident. <But…What about my punishment?> Shampoo said. Cologne almost grinned, but held herself back from doing so. "Do not worry yourself with such matters Shampoo. You do not have a punishment for this kind of matter." Again, Cologne flicked her eyes towards Shampoo to see her reaction.

Shampoo almost felt like she was going to give her Great-grandmother a sad smile, but instead responded with a small nod before heading up to her room. Cologne only sighed again shaking her head.

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

Ranma continued on his way home scowling at the sky. He looked at the moon and growled out loud. He passed by Ucchan's and didn't even pay attention to the smell emanating from inside. He just looked at the moon angrily as he walked towards the dojo. Once he rounded the corner, Ranma's mood got worse. He entered the Tendo dojo and was about to slide the door open to get inside, but was stopped by Kasumi.

"Oh. Hello Ranma…. I thought that Akane kicked you out of the house." Kasumi finished her sentence with a confused look on her face. Ranma just sighed and shook his head. "Don't worry Kasumi. I don't really care what that Tomboy says anymore after what she did tonight. And no I am not kicked out of the house…I was kicked out earlier though." Ranma said with a hint of anger in his voice. Kasumi looked at Ranma for a moment before nodding her head. Ranma smiled his thanks and went inside to his room.

Once he got into his room, Ranma sighed and got out his futon. Once that was done, Ranma heaved a sigh and plopped down onto it while looking at the ceiling. Ranma closed his eyes. `I just can't believe Akane sometimes. I'm really starting to hate that attitude that she always has. I mean, its worse than when she had that stupid Super Soba stuff…..' Ranma's thoughts drifted for a while. `Hmm….I need to figure out how to get Shampoo back….Maybe I can.. err…what's the word? Court her?' Ranma blushed. `I think that's the word…But what about that Old Ghoul? That's the problem….' Ranma thought about it for a few minutes before sitting straight up. He snapped his fingers and grinned.

`HA!! I finally outsmarted the Old Ghoul! Heh heh. She won't be able to stop me from being able to court Shampoo. I bet there's nuthin against the laws for that. I mean, after all, she isn't Shampoo and lots of boys try to impress girls. So all I gotta do is get Shampoo to date me…..But, I can't believe that I have to try and court her. That's gonna be embarrassing…' Ranma lied back down and after a few seconds, grinned. `Well, I guess this is what its like for the guys at school…But at least I'm gonna be able to get her. SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO RESIST MY CHARMS!!!' Ranma began to laugh at that, but stopped and settled for just grinning.

`heh heh. I guess I've made my choice now. I chose Shampoo over Akane….' Ranma thought. `I guess I know why. It's better to be loved than pounded and it's better to have a girl who actually has pride…Well, pride that won't make you too confident and power crazy.' Ranma thought in satisfaction.

`Hmm…But what am I gonna do with Pops and Mr. Tendo? I know what they're gonna do. Probably gonna tie me up and drag me away from Japan till I get my so called head straight…..' Ranma chuckled at the thought. `Heh, I wont let Pops do that to me anymore….Not since I'm gonna chase after something that I want…' It took a while for Ranma to register what he said. And when he finally understood, he blushed head to toe.

Suddenly, Ranma was pushed out of his thoughts by a knock at the door. He stuttered an answer, "W-what is it?" He heard Kasumi's voice through his door, "Ranma? Do you want a snack before we go to bed? I'm thinking that you didn't get to eat since when Akane got home she was looking for practice dummies."

Ranma's head registered the bit with Akane and scowled. "Yeah. yeah I think I'll get sumthin to eat…..Um…Kasumi? Is Akane over there?" Ranma waited for an answer, but all he could hear was silence. Ranma sighed before he lied back down on his futon. It was a few minutes later that he heard a voice again. "No Ranma. Akane went to sleep when she came in the house a little while ago." Kasumi said, startling Ranma. He got up and walked towards the door. Then he opened it.

Kasumi was on the other side, smiling pleasantly at him. He only looked skeptical. "Hey uh Kasumi? How come you didn't answer me earlier?" Kasumi's smile wavered a little bit. "Well, Grandfather Happossai was in here s-" She was cut off with Ranma's hand in her face. "No need to explain any further. That old goat can really be sneaky when he wants to be. I didn't even hear him." Kasumi nodded and began walking towards the kitchen

Ranma smiled weakly and began walking towards the kitchen behind Kasumi. Again, he was lost in thought. `I wonder how Kasumi will act when I tell everyone that I'm not going to marry Akane…' Ranma shrugged as his senses came in tune with the kitchen. It was at that time when Ranma's stomach growled.

Ranma held a hand over his stomach and continued his way to the kitchen. He prepared some food in there, ate, and then went back in his room. Once his head touched a pillow, Ranma was out like a light for the night.

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

In the morning, Ranma groaned when sunlight entered through his eyelids. He blinked a few times adjusting to the light. Then he got up and stretched. `Ah. Today's the day when I start…ah courting…Shampoo….' Ranma thought embarrassed. He looked around and began searching around for clothes to wear. `I gotta get used to this. Heh, but this is gonna be different. I'm the one who's chasin someone for once.' Ranma grinned and began to think about Shampoo. He started to daydream soon after.

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

Shampoo woke up when she heard a wrapping sound behind her door. Cologne's voice could be heard. "Great-granddaughter. It's time to get up and work. Quickly now girl." Cologne said. Shampoo answered with a groan and put a pillow over her head. Cologne persisted on getting Shampoo up. "Come on now Shampoo. We still have to talk. And you have work. It's not going to give us good points if we don't have the waitress for the customers. Hurry and get a move on or I'll get in there and fix you up myself.

Shampoo only gave a muffled reply to Cologne. `Screw that Great-grandmother. Let those perverted Japanese boys wait. I want to sleep.' Shampoo thought sleepily. Cologne sighed and shook her head. Then, she jumped off her staff, took the staff with her hand, and tapped on the door. It was broken off its hinges a few seconds later. Cologne snorted when she put the door to the side and started to walk near Shampoo's bed. When she saw the bundle under the blankets, Cologne took her staff again and hit Shampoo on the head.

Shampoo fell off the bed with a thud. Once she got up, she began to rub her head. Cologne only looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I told you, Great-granddaughter, that I would get you up…. Whether you like it or not, you are going to talk to me today. And you will be talking clearly…Understood?" Cologne demanded. Shampoo just looked down and nodded her head.

Cologne smiled in satisfaction. "Good. And do not worry Great-granddaughter. You'll be feeling better before you know it." Shampoo looked at Cologne, doubtfully. Cologne only grinned at her. `Oh, if only you knew how much I was right…. You'd be very happy….and would most likely be crushing my bones in a hug….' Cologne sweat dropped at that last thought.

Shampoo sighed and sat down on her bed. She looked at it forlornly for a moment. Cologne watched her intently. `Hmm… But my bed is so warm…I don't want to leave it just yet….' Shampoo thought. And so, quicker than lightning, Shampoo jumped right back in the covers and snuggled up to her pillow, trying to get some sleep. Cologne shook her head in disbelief before trying to take her Great-granddaughter away from the bed.

"Come now child! We have much to talk about and lots to do! Get out of that bed!" Cologne said with force. Shampoo looked up from her pillow and looked at her Great-grandmother for a moment. Cologne sighed in relief. `Finally she's listening to m-` She was cut off however, when Shampoo ignored her again and smothered her face into her pillow.

Cologne's eye twitched. Thanking the gods that none of her tribal sisters was watching her, Cologne grabbed onto Shampoo's arm trying to pull her out of the bed. To Cologne's surprise, she could not get Shampoo off the bed. Shampoo had her head covered in her pillow but gripped onto the mattress to steady herself. After a few failed attempts, Cologne dropped Shampoo's arm and hit her Great-granddaughter on the head with her staff again.

Shampoo groaned as she was hit, but didn't do anything to stop it. All she did was endure it. Shampoo tightly closed her eyes. Cologne sighed again. `This is just not my morning…' She thought. Cologne looked at Shampoo over again and slightly glared at the girl. "Fine then. Have it your way. We'll talk later about your obligation to Ranma." Shampoo's senses perked up at that, Cologne noticed.

Shampoo closed her eyes under her pillow and thought about her options. `Okay, I might want to know what Great-grandmother's talking about but I do NOT want to at the same time….*sigh* Why is it always me?' Shampoo groaned again and sat up.

Cologne smirked. "Well, finally I get your attention Great-granddaughter." Shampoo looked at the old woman in annoyance and glared half-heartedly. Cologne only chuckled. "Well now Great-granddaughter. I guess I know how to grab your attention now." Cologne looked at Shampoo knowingly. Shampoo scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes glazed over into iciness.

<I have no interest with that… Japanese PIG… any longer. I just wanted to know why was it that you were so intent on talking with me Matriarch,> Shampoo finished formally. Cologne inwardly winced. `Since when did she start to call me that?' Cologne thought in her head.

Cologne sighed again while looking at her Great-granddaughter. "Why are you acting so cold all of a sudden Shampoo? It's definitely not like you to say those kind of things… Especially about your Airen…"

<Ex-Airen, you mean Great-grandmother…> Shampoo said without another thought. Cologne slightly nodded at the correction. "Ah yes. Ex-Airen. But you do know Great-granddaughter that he could try and court you if he wants. There is no rule against that…..But of course you know that." Cologne said, thinking of Mousse. Shampoo only lowered her eyes in anger. <Yes Great-grandmother I KNOW that. But it's not like I'd actually go along with him anymore, so there really is nothing to talk about,> Shampoo stated with finality.

Cologne sighed. "You really are making this harder than it has to be you know. We SHOULD talk about this instead of you thinking ahead like that. You can be very reckless sometimes. And I doubt that you would pass up a chance to be with your ex Airen."

Shampoo's eyes narrowed. < You just think that I would go along with him like a love-sick puppy who does not have moralities? I am not Ranma's worshipper Great-grandmother. And I do not care if he TRIES to court me… I don't WANT to be tagged along just like before….In fact…I think I should thank him for dating with that bitchy Kitchen Destroyer,> Shampoo said hotly. Cologne sighed again.

"Fine then, have it your way. But you still have work to do Great-granddaughter. So get up so you can work." Cologne looked at Shampoo with concealed disappointment. Shampoo just got up from her bed, stretched, and then flickered her eyes to the door. She looked back at Cologne. " Are we going to go back to China soon Great-grandmother?" Shampoo questioned.

Cologne almost lost her balance on her staff when she heard her Great-granddaughter say all that in perfect Japanese. She quickly regained her cool demeanor though and balanced herself once again on her staff. She looked at Shampoo for a second with hard eyes before they softened. `Well I guess I don't give my Great-granddaughter the credit she deserves….'

Shampoo looked at her Great-grandmother impatiently. "Come on already Great-grandmother! Tell me!" Shampoo exclaimed. Cologne looked at her Great-granddaughter in amusement. "I'm sorry Shampoo but we still have a lot of work to do here. We have a business here and I'm pretty sure that it would take a while for someone else to buy this place," Cologne said without the least bit of sincerity.

Shampoo scowled. `Why the hell is she so happy about this? Dammit! I want to get away from here. And the sooner the better….' Shampoo hung her head dejectedly. Cologne grinned lightly and patted Shampoo on the shoulder. "Come now Shampoo. It isn't that bad. We have a good business here." Cologne said. `Easy for you to say…' Shampoo thought bitterly. She groaned as she looked up. Then she looked at the door again. "When are you going to get out of my room? I have to change don't I?" Shampoo said in annoyance. Cologne nodded and proceeded to exit the room, but turned back to her Great-granddaughter.

"Are you sure that you won't accept Ranma if he wants you to be his?" Cologne smiled as she saw her Great-granddaughter look down at the ground with brief flashes of different emotions in her eyes. `Well at least I know that she's thinking about it now….' Cologne thought in satisfaction. It took Shampoo a few more moments to look up at her Great-grandmother and respond. Cologne almost backed up when Shampoo looked at her.

Shampoo's lips were in a thin line and half of her bangs were covering her eyes. But Cologne could still see the look that Shampoo was giving her. Shampoo looked at Cologne dead in the eyes with such bitterness that Cologne HAD to hop a step back. Shampoo smiled thinly…."I'd rather smash my own heart to pieces again instead of having a disgusting male's feet crush it," Shampoo responded with venom as she looked at her Great-grandmother steadily in the eyes.

Cologne's face paled slightly as she looked at her heir. ` I have a feeling that she will in fact do that…..' Cologne felt a shiver run down her back. `Hopefully Son-in-law will apologize to her before things get out of hand….'

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

Ranma groaned and shook himself out of his thoughts. He placed a palm on his forehead and inwardly cursed. `Stop it you idiot! There is no way in Hell that I'm gonna react like that around her! Stop it! We gotta find sumthin to wear first….' Ranma blinked twice before he drooped his head. "I'm hopeless…." he thought out loud.

Genma took this opportunity to barge in through the door. He looked at Ranma and the clothes that were on the floor. Genma growled. "BOY WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!!? WHAT DID YOU DO TO AKANE?!!! FACE ME BOY, WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!!!" Genma shouted in anger.

Ranma continued to ignore his father. He looked through more of his clothing, but stopped after a moment. `Hmm….,' he thought, `Maybe it would be better just to wear sumthin that normal people wear. I probably won't even need my training clothes…..' Ranma thought about it again with second thoughts. `Geez… Liking a girl can really cloud your mind. The last thing that will happen in this town is when everyone stops buggin me. I can't even hang out with a girl without being accused. So how am I gonna pull this off?'

Ranma sighed again before returning to the task at hand. In the background Genma was yelling. `Ah well, it doesn't matter I guess. Wearing these normal clothes are sorta comfortable anyway…' Ranma changed into a black shirt with a soft white vest that layered it. He also wore baggy midnight blue jeans. Genma scowled.

"Where are you goin boy? Apologize to your fiancée!" Genma exclaimed. Ranma stopped from exiting the room and turned back to Genma. "Will you just shut up already Pops! I know what you're gonna say! Well, I don't care about that stupid uncute gorilla of a tomboy! Let her cry for all I care! She's been acting like a sleazy bitch for the past couple of weeks!" Ranma huffed out.

Genma looked at Ranma angrily. "Don't you dare talk that way about your fiancée boy! You know darn well that the key to the Tendo and Saotome Martial Arts Style of Anything Goes depends on you two!"

Ranma felt his vision start to haze over in fury. "I AINT GONNA MARRY HER!!! I'VE SEEN HER TRUE COLORS GOD DAMMIT!!! THE ONLY WAY IN HELL THAT I'D MARRY HER IS IF I LOVED HER!!! WELL GUESS WHAT OLD MAN! I DON'T LOVE HER!!! SHE'S JUST A COLD HEARTED GORILLA!! NOW BACK THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!!! GET OFF MY BACK!!! I DON'T NEED A LAZY OLD PANDA AS A FATHER WHO PRETENDS TO KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT!" Ranma shouted. His jaw was clenched tightly and his knuckles were a ghostly white. Ranma glared dangerously at his old man….Who evidently was a panda, rolling around with a ball in nervousness.

Ranma growled at his good for nothing father. Ranma said matter-of-factly, "I'm going out today. I'll see you later old man." Ranma waved and walked out of the room. Before Genma sighed in relief though, Ranma popped his head back in and glared at the old man. Genma sweat dropped. "Pops… I mean it. You better leave me alone when I'm outside today…I DON'T want you bothering me…" Ranma growled out. Genma nodded obediently.

Once Ranma shut the door and Genma couldn't hear Ranma's footsteps, he sighed in relief. `What's got that boy so angry?' Genma questioned in his head.

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