Okay, ladies and gents, these here characters ain't mine, I'm just borrowing them for a spell. So sit back, and I hope y'all like the story. (Chinese) Ranma 1/2 Unexpected Results Part 3 Cologne did not have much use for hospitals. She preferred the old methods of healing over the advancements of modern technology. She herself was a skilled healer, on par with many who claimed the title of doctor. However, when the ambulance arrived and they took her great-grand daughter and Mousse away, she followed silently. She had not spoken a word to the paramedics on the ride to the hospital, had offered no explanations. She just sat, her expression unreadable as they worked on the two teenagers. They had arrived quickly at the hospital, a cold, emotionless place to Cologne's way of thinking, where the problems of the sick were given assembly line cures for the ills of the body, but not of the soul. A doctor had begun working on Mousse there in the Emergency Room. Cologne knew the boy's wounds looked much worse than they actually were and were not life threatening. Shampoo, however, had been rushed into surgery. Multiple broken ribs, a collapsed lung, suspected skull fractures, serious internal injuries. One of the doctors had asked if it had been a car accident. That was the only thing he could think of to cause such wounds. Cologne had said nothing. The doctor had stared at her for a while and then walked away in disgust. To Cologne, this was a personal matter. She did not care what they thought. This was a matter of honor, as Ranma had said, and none of their business. The fools couldn't begin to realize that. She would not have let them take Shampoo had it not been for the fact that her hands were tied. Shampoo had asked her not to interfere, and had accepted a challenge to the death. Cologne could do nothing for her granddaughter until she either died or recovered. She could, however, do other things. What had set Ranma off, she wondered. If the truth was known, Cologne was actually rather fond of the martial artist that her grandchild had chosen for her husband. She also felt that the time they were spending in Japan was being put to good use in expanding Shampoo's horizons. Now, however, things seemed different. While Ranma hadn't killed Shampoo out right, he had done enough damage that it was still a possibility. Matter of honor or not, if Shampoo died, Ranma Saotome would follow her to the grave not to long after. It was a few hours after they arrived that a doctor came to her and said that Shampoo had been stabilized, and while she still wasn't out of the water yet, they expected her to live. Cologne nodded, her stony visage not betraying any of the relief she felt. The doctor then led her to Shampoo. The sight of her granddaughter almost broke the old woman's heart. They had her attached to tubes and blinking machines. One whole side of her face was swollen a purple that almost matched her hair. Cologne stood by her bedside, as the doctor quietly made his exit. (Oh, my Shampoo,) Cologne said sadly reaching down to touch the girls face. (What could you have done to deserve this?) (Gr-grand mother?) Shampoo whispered, barely opening her eye. Cologne looked at the girl in shock, then smiled. (I'm here child,) Cologne replied. (Where am I? Where is Ranma?) Shampoo asked. (You are in the hospital,) Cologne told her. (I do not know where the boy is.) (Is Mousse okay?) Shampoo asked. (He's fine,) Cologne assured her. (So, I'm still alive?) Shampoo said. (I was sure that he would kill me.) (Hush child,) Cologne said. (Rest and save your strength. We will deal with Saotome when you are healed.) Shampoo moved her head slightly. (No. I did something very bad grandmother,) she said. (I dishonored myself, our tribe, and the man that I love. This morning I when I left to find Ranma, I took a love potion I found in one of your scrolls to give to him......) That morning in the park "Niho Ranma!" Shampoo said happily. Ranma winced. He had just left the Tendo's a few hours ago to train in the mountains after a fight with Akane over this self-same amazon. He had spent the time since then in the park trying to decide which mountains to train in. He was tire, still slightly angry, and worst of all, had missed breakfast. To say he was not looking forward to seeing her was an understatement. "Whadda want, Shampoo, I'm busy," he growled a little harsher than normal. "Ranma take Shampoo on date today, yes?" Shampoo asked ignoring the tone of his voice. "No, I don't think so," Ranma said and started to walk off. Shampoo shrugged. "If Ranma no want cure for curse is fine by Shampoo then," She started to walk off, but was stopped when Ranma grabbed her shoulder. He turned her around to face him. "What do you mean a cure?" He asked. Shampoo smirked and pulled out a vile of purple liquid. "Ranma drink this and no turn into girl anymore," Shampoo said. Ranma gave her a sour look. "You expect me to fall for that?" he asked. Shampoo smiled wider. "Ranma, watch" she said and walked over to the fountain. "W-what are you doing?" Ranma asked as she put her hand in the water. He got ready to bolt when she splashed herself, then stopped when nothing happened. "How did.." "Shampoo already drink cure, is how she know it work." Back at the hospital Cologne looked at Shampoo in shock. (You found a cure!?) she asked. (No, I used the waterproof soap to fake that I was cured. I knew Ranma wouldn't take the potion unless he had proof it worked. I also knew he wouldn't trust me giving it to him for nothing. That's why I told him I would give it to him only if he spent the entire day with me.) Cologne chuckled despite herself. (That was a very clever plan, I am impressed.) (Thank you, it was working until......) The Park "Ranma Saotome, prepare to die!!!" shouted the boy with the bandana and umbrella as he leapt out of the bushes at Ranma and Shampoo as they walked hand and hand through the park. "How dare you date Shampoo when you have Akane, you two timer!" "Geezz, this is all I need," Ranma said as he dodged the attack. "Ryoga, cool it, this ain't what it looks like." "Shut up," Ryoga snapped, "I've seen you walking with your hands all over her, you lecher. I'll send you to hell for running around behind Akane's back." "Man, you are a moron," Ranma growled, dodging more blows. "I have a very good reason for doing this if you would just hear me out for a sec." "I said shut up! I won't listen to any of your lies!" "Well listen to this, you idiot, Shampoo has a cure!" "Yeah, right like I believe that one." "See for yourself pig boy," Ranma shrugged. Their fight had led them back to the fountain. Ranma leapt on the fountain and kicked some water out. Ryoga, of course dodged. Shampoo, however, didn't and was soaked. The fact that she had remained human wasn't lost on Ryoga. He gaped at her. "She didn't turn into a cat!" "Duh, moron, that's what I was trying to tell you. She has a cure! Now if you shut your yap and get lost, I might talk her into letting a loser like you have some." "Really?!" Ryoga asked then frowned. "Hey, wait a minute, who are you calling a loser?" Shampoo was beginning to look a little nervous and clutched the vial with the potion tight. "Sorry, Shampoo have enough for only one person and is for Airen," she said. "What!?" Ranma and Ryoga shouted at once, then turned to look at each other. Ryoga looked away first. "Congratulations, Ranma," he said at last. "Ryoga?" "Well, at least one of us will be a whole man again," Ryoga said. "And if you can find a cure then there's hope for me to, right?" "Ryoga, man, I-I don't know what to say," Ranma said. Ryoga just shrugged. Shampoo walked over to them. "Is true? You no try take cure?" She asked. "Of course I wouldn't," Ryoga said. "Why I, huh, oh hi there A-ka-ne, wh-what are you doing here?" Ranma and Shampoo both turned around in surprise and found... nothing. Ryoga smiled evilly and snatched the potion out of Shampoo's hands. "Hiya, stupid lost boy trick us!" she yelled as Ryoga laughed insanely. "Bwhaaaaa, so, who's the loser now, Ranma?" He asked and began drinking the liquid. "Give that back!" Ranma shouted and lunged at Ryoga. He hit the lost boy, and tore the vial from him before he could drink it all. Ranma quickly downed the remainder of the liquid. "That was mine!" Ryoga shouted and punched at Ranma. Ranma jumped back and landed on the rim of the fountain. Unfortunately, he landed on a wet spot, and slipped, falling into the fountain with a splash. Shampoo screamed. "You stupid jerk," the now female Ranma sputtered as she stood. "There wasn't enough left to, to, huh?" Shampoo looked from Ranma, who was starring at Ryoga, to Ryoga who was starring at Ranma and screamed again. The hospital (So,) Cologne said. (The son-in-law and the lost boy. I take it the potion took effect when they looked at each other?) (Yes,) shampoo whispered. (I try to stop them, but they got ran away from me. I searched for hours, and when I found them....) She burst into tears. (They had been....intimate,) Cologne finished for her. Shampoo sobbed. (They where naked and asleep in each others arms when I found them.) (Oh, child, this is a mess,) Cologne said. (It, it gets worse,) Shampoo said. (The potion I used, it, it had already worn off of Ranma when she woke up. She saw me standing over them with the vile in my hand. She looked at me, and knew what I had done. I tried to apologize, but she wouldn't listen, so I ran. The potion is permanent on males, so Ryoga tried to calm her, he didn't understand why she was so angry. I heard him scream as I ran, but I don't know what Ranma did to him.) Cologne frowned. A potion that was temporary on women, but permanent on men? There was only one she could think of, but that was.... Cologne's eyes suddenly went wide. (The Last Resort!) she gasped and looked at Shampoo. (Tell me you didn't use that one child!) (I did.) (And they BOTH drank it.) (Yes.) (And did you drink it.) (Y-yes. T-this morning b-before I left.) Cologne suddenly got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. (Granddaughter, do you realize what this means?) Cologne asked her voice grave. (yes.) Shampoo whispered. (I have to find Ranma,) Cologne said. (I pray the gods that by some miracle he was spared. Otherwise, you may well wish he had killed you, child. By our own laws, he would be justified to do so. You have used the Last Resort and failed miserably.) (I was desperate,) Shampoo said. (It doesn't matter any more, nothing matters anymore. I have lost Ranma and I am no longer a true woman.) Cologne looked down at Shampoo letting the sadness show on her face. (I can do nothing to help the last part, but I maybe able to help Ranma if I find him soon enough. As for Ryoga, that's beyond my power even if I could find the poor fool.) Cologne stayed with Shampoo until the girl drifted into unconsiousness, then left to try to find Ranma Meanwhile, a few hours earlier at Doctor Tofu's Clinic...... Ukyo sat in hopeful silence as she watched Doctor Tofu examine Ranma. "So, you're not changing back with hot water you say?" Doc Tofu asked. "That's right Doc, do you think you can help me?" Ranma asked. "Well first of all, I have to know what's wrong with you, let me see." He examined Ranma, and every so often poked at a pressure point. Finally, he poured a kettle of water over her and watched the reaction, or rather lack there of. "This is very odd," he said at last. "Your aura is out of balance. Did something strange happen to you today that you need to tell me about?" "S-strange, no no, nothing," Ranma replied anxiously. "What about Shampoo," Ukyo said. "You said this was all the her fault, and you said something about a potion." "Ranma, did you drink one of Shampoo's concoctions again?" Tofu sighed. "Yeah sugar, what exactly did happen?" Ukyo asked. She had calmed down some on the walk to the clinic. Not that she wasn't still planning on killing the chinese bimbo, but she was thinking a little clearer and wanted a few answers. Ranma's face clouded with the same look of disgust, anger and shame that she had worn when she last asked her that question. "I told ya I don't wanna talk about it," She said darkly. "Well if you want my help, I'm afraid you'll have to talk about it, Ranma," Tofu said. "We have to know exactly what we are dealing with." Ranma looked from Doc Tofu to Ukyo, her eyes pleading with them not to make her. The look of vulnerability Ukyo saw on her Ranchan's face tore her heart. This was the great Ranma Saotome, heir to the Saotome School of Martial Arts. That Ranma would look so helpless and vulnerable was nearly a blasphemy in Ukyo's mind. she silently vowed, Ukyo walked over and placed her hand on the smaller girl's shoulder. "Tell us what happened, Ranchan," she said. "Okay," Ranma said quietly, a tone of defeat in her voice that made Ukyo want to cry. "But you have to promise y-you won't hate me, Ucchan. And you can't tell anyone, not Pop, not Mr. Tendo, NOT Akane." Ukyo was about to answer that she could never hate him, then thought about those ten long years she spent hunting him. But in truth, it had been Genma she hated then, not Ranma. "I promise, sugar," she said. Ranma took a deep breath and began his story. Not once did she look at either of her listener, her gaze remained fixed on the floor. If she had looked, she would have seen Doc Tofu shake his head sadly and look on with sympathy. She would have also saw the look of hurt and fury that was growing on Ukyo's face. "... and so I ended up at Ucchan's and you both know the rest," Ranma finished. She couldn't bring herself to look at them. She could feel the anger and hate radiating from Ukyo and felt herself sink lower into depression. "Ucch...I mean Ukyo," she said, "I understand if you hate me and don't wanna be friends anymore. I-I'm real sorry, god, you don't know how sorry I am. Y-you're my best-friend, my only real friend, and I never wanted to do anything to hurt you. I understand if you hate me now." "Because of that, that BITCH," Ukyo said, "and that BASTARD Ryoga, he had no right... it was supposed to be ME not him!! Damnit why? You're MY fiancé, and now... We were supposed to lose our virginity together, you and me. They took that from me." Ranma looked up to see tears in Ukyo's eyes. "I'm sorry Ukyo," Ranma choked, tears coming to her eyes, "its all my fault. I am SO, SO sorry. If I hadn't..." Ukyo slapped her. "Don't you say that," Ukyo hissed. "Don't you ever say that it was you're fault!! What happened might as well have been rape. It's the same as a guy slipping something in a girl's drink in a bar. This is Shampoo's fault!" Ukyo couldn't take it anymore, and suddenly burst into tears and grabbed Ranma. Ranma was stunned for a moment, then put her arms around Ukyo and held her tight. "I'm not Akane, Ranchan," Ukyo said at last, still clutching Ranma. "I don't automatically think the worst of you, and I'll always be here for you." "Thanks, Ucchan," Ranma said her voice heavy with emotion. It was already dark when they left Doctor Tofu's with instructions to come back the next day. The Doc had somethings he wanted to look into. So, they left, stepping out into the night. The two didn't really mind, the darkness fit their mood. They made there way to the Cat Cafe in silence, both thinking of what they would do when they got there. They found the restaurant dark. The door was missing, so getting side was no problem. There had been no need to block the doorway. Thieves knew better than to try to plunder the place. "Looks deserted," Ranma said. Ukyo nodded. "You sure did a number on this place, sugar," Ukyo said with some satisfaction looking at the destroyed dinning room at the large hole in the ceiling from Ranma's last chi blast. He had changed the target at the last moment. "Do you want to wait for them here?" Ranma was about to speak when her stomach growled. Ranma winced. Ukyo smiled a little. "Why don't we go back to the restaurant, and I'll cook you dinner?" Ukyo suggested. "We can start hunting for Shampoo tomorrow." "Yeah, I guess..." Ranma said. "Hey, Ucchan, can I stay with you tonight? I don't feel up to going home and dealing with Pops and those crazy Tendos tonight." "You don't even have to ask, sugar," Ukyo said. "My house is your house." The two of them left and headed back to Ucchan's. A few moments later, a small form on a cane appeared. Cologne said. And with that, she leapt onto a near-by rooftop and made her way to the Clinic. End part 3 Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh.