Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Akane ❯ The Planning Duo ( Chapter 11 )

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

Disclaimer: I sadly don't own Ranma or any of the characters. Rumiko Takahashi does. I'm only using her awesome characters for fanfictional stories. So I repeat, Rumiko Takahashi is the Creator of Ranma ½

Chinese thinking will be in ( italics )and speaking will be ( Regular )

'Characters thoughts are in this format.'

Akane

Chapter 11

A young, sixteen-year-old, amazon girl quickly made her way home to the Cat Café. Her long violet hair swayed in the wind as she carried her agile body through the desolate streets. She reached her destination and slowly opened the door.

The lights were off in the front of the restaurant but a light was on in the kitchen, leaving her some illumination to see where she stepped. She entered quietly, barley hearing the sound of her own footsteps. As she neared the kitchen, she figured that no one was up. An old, small voice came up from behind her, speaking her natural language.

(What did you find out, Shampoo?) Her violet eyes settled on the tiny old woman, perfectly balancing herself on her staff. Cologne's intense stare settled into her own eyes. She composed herself quickly in front of Cologne and spoke in Chinese.

(He went away on a training trip with his father.) Cologne did not speak for a moment which made Shampoo a little nervous. Her eyes traveled over the village elder, seeing the usual red band on her head followed by her long, white hair. She looked at her green outfit and her brown wooden staff.

(So she's there alone?) Her voice broke her out from her ogling.

(Yes, but-)

(There is hesitance in your voice. Are you feeling not up to the task? Are you backing away from a weaker enemy?) Shampoo tried to compose herself but Cologne had caught sight of her nervousness.

(N..no. It is just that-)

(Do you have any doubt that this will not work? Are you unsure of yourself as a martial artist that you will not fulfill what you have said that you would accomplish?) She eyed the young martial artist.

(No, Great-Grandmother. I know what I must do as a martial artist and for my people.) She stood tall before Cologne and knew that she would be doing this for her people too.

(Then child, is the potion ready?)

Shampoo nodded.

(Everything has been set. When should we start?) Shampoo asked.

(Soon. We will wait for the right moment and then Ranma will be yours.

Everything will fall into place.)

(He will return in a week.) Shampoo said, knowing that this was also of importance.

(You have done your work well, granddaughter. Rest now. We will speak in the morning.)

(Okay.) The sixteen year old girl left the old woman alone. Cologne looked over to the closed cabinet behind the counter.

(You will be out of the picture very soon, Tendo. Akane. Ranma will be ours.)

Mousse waddled away from the scene of Shampoo and Cologne, before they could notice him. He could not believe that they were going to do that to Akane. Now he knew why Cologne had him gather those ingredients. He did not put two and two together as he only did as he was told. Now knowing their plans, he knew of the potion those contents will create. A potion that is permanent and non-curable. Even Akane did not deserve her own heart to be tampered with that badly. Though his feelings were strong for the purple-haired amazon, he thought this plan was going over board. Cologne could cause some serious problems and Shampoo was just going along with it, just like him, but she knew what was going on. He didn't and he realized Cologne would not tell him because she knew that he would disagree and try to disrupt the plan, which are his intentions anyway. But Shampoo would do anything to make Cologne happy and that is one of the things that bothered him. Just because she was one of the elders, whatever she said had to go. Well, he didn't think so. He just truly wished that they could go back and live their lives back at the village like they used to.

He found the bath and flew in the hot water. In a mere second, Mousse, once a white duck, emerged as a teenaged boy with long, graceful, black hair that reached the small of his back. His finely toned muscles etched in his white skin. He sat back in the furo and just relaxed. His deep emerald eyes stared into the water.

What could he do to help? No, what could he do to not make the potion work? If he did this then he would be guaranteed that Ranma wouldn't take Shampoo away, right? He now needed to know if Ranma cared enough for Akane that he would not let this happen to her, but he was on that trip. That compounded the situation even more. What should he do? Go to Ranma or Akane? But by the time he found Ranma, Akane might have been attacked by Shampoo or Cologne and given the potion. He pondered his actions for a moment, but before he could come up with a reasonable solution, there was a knock on the door.

"Mousse? Mousse in bath?" She paused a moment and he spoke up.

"Yes, Shampoo. I am in here." He could imagine the pout that came upon her face. He stood up from the bath and headed over to grab a towel to wrap it around his lean hips. He reached to open the door.

"Mousse hurry! Shampoo wants bath! Mousse take Shampoo's time-" The door opened and she was introduced to the nearly naked teen. She only frowned as she looked at the serious expression on his face.

"Mousse angry? Why? Shampoo want to know." She stood only in a towel herself but she wasn't fazed one bit. Mousse would have usually looked her over for a second but that was not on his mind as he continued to think about his dilemma.

"Nothing. You can have the bath. I'm done." He walked past her and gathered his clothes. He exited the bathroom without anything else said and quietly walked to his room. Mousse closed the door lightly and walked over to his dresser. He got dressed in a pair of boxers and tank top and settled himself in his bed, staring at his white ceiling.

What was he going to do? He had to talk to Akane but he had to find that potion. Wouldn't it be better to do that now? He thought about that but then decided against it.

Mousse shifted onto his side. Cologne would catch him, that's why he could not do it now. His mind suddenly remembered something. She has to be somewhere tomorrow. She will have to leave the restaurant. That will be his time to mess up the potion and then he will go to Akane. She will have to get in contact with Ranma or he would have to.

Mousse closed his eyes making a mental note that he has to get up early the next day.

Mousse woke up early the next morning and heard Cologne moving around downstairs, preparing breakfast for the three amazons before she had to leave for her business. He cursed to himself as his body did not arise earlier than the old elder.

Knowing that she would be yelling up the stairs for him to come down and finish breakfast, Mousse got up and dressed in his usual robes, checking to make sure he had all his weapons and other tricks available to him. He went to his door and started to descend the stairs just as he heard Cologne yelling up for him.

(MOUSSE, GET DOWN HERE AND FINISH BREAKFAST!)

Mousse just shook his head and thought to himself, 'One of these days you old ghoul, I will not have to do what you say! I really must thank Ranma one day for giving her a fitting nick name that I can use to myself at least!'

Mousse silently walked into the kitchen and looked around noting nothing out of the ordinary. His green eyes then fell upon a rather large pot simmering on the very back of the stove. As he approached it, with curiosity guiding him, Cologne was suddenly between him and the pot.

(Mousse, you will leave that pot alone. It is a new sauce I want to try for the ramen.) Cologne said as she stood there and waited for a reply of confirmation from the brunette.

Mousse just looked at her and nodded, quickly figuring out the truth. He then turned to the evidence of breakfast and took up where Cologne left off.

(How long is your business going to be? Are you going to be back in time to help with the lunch rush?) Cologne glared at the boy and bashed Mousse over the head with her staff.

(When I get back, until then, you and Great Granddaughter will mind the restaurant and take care of all the orders. And while I am gone, Shampoo is in charge. Do you understand that?)

Mousse just nodded his head, rubbing the spot that Cologne had hit with her staff. He did as he was told and finished cooking the breakfast, carrying it out to the tables so they could sit down and eat.

Shampoo came downstairs, looking a little unsure of herself, but she quickly hid her discomfort and sat down to eat with Mousse and Cologne, listening to Cologne's instructions for the day. Her mind was trying to keep on the topic that was currently being discussed but her thoughts wandered to Ranma.

(I honestly don't know if I want to continue to chase Airen. He doesn't seem to love me, or want me! What am I going to do?)She continued to look down at her food and nipped at it.

Cologne just watched Shampoo and wondered if Shampoo was losing her edge. She quickly dismissed that possibility as Shampoo had already agreed to go through with the plan to give Akane the potion. And with what they were doing, if it did not work, then Shampoo and herself would both be cast from the tribe because it was considered a last resort. And if the last resort failed, then the one's who used it were obviously not worthy of being in the tribe anymore!

After breakfast, she made Mousse clean up and gave Shampoo some last minute instructions. She glanced at Mousse one last time as she gave Shampoo a knowing look, then proceeded to hop out of the restaurant and went to see about her business.

Shampoo finished some spot cleaning and put out the sign indicating the Neko-Hanten was open for the day.