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Mousse shot up from his sleep. The dreams he had still tried to grab
him, and to hold him down. Such light! It was now daytime? Mousse couldn't tell, everything at first was so bright.
"Oh!" Akane gasped. She removed her hands from his shoulders. "I was just about to wake you up." Akane took a closer look at his eyes. "Are you ok? Your eyes are completely green."
"I . . . I can't see . . ." Mousse rubbed his eyes. "Everything is so bright!"
"Wh-What?" Akane studied him better.
"Where are you, Princess?"
"She's right in front of you," Gosunkugi answered him. "Can't you see her?"
"N-No." Mousse reached blindly and grabbed something soft. Akane was caught in the experience as he held her hand. "Is-Is that your hand?"
"Yes."
Mousse could feel his eyes water. Blind! Was it going to last forever? Blindness was one of Mousse's least favorite imaginings to go through life. He could feel his shoulders shake as he sobbed.
"Hey, it's okay," Akane placed her free hand on his shoulder, feeling akward about them holding hands.
"Sorry," Gosunkugi patted him on the back. Mousse yanked his hand free to wipe his tears with his sleeve.
"Please don't tell anyone of this." Mousse sniffed.
Gosunkugi's heart skipped a beat.
"Did-Did you hear that?"
"What?" Akane helped herself and Mousse to their feet, bracing him.
"Something . . . crashed?" Gosunkugi paused to hear. "There! There it was again!"
"I don't really hear anything," Mousse stood on his own now.The trees cleared to the side! A red creature, of veins, like plants, with a large see-through blue orb as a belly. Inside, there were two forms. (Please play this midi for effect)
"A monster!" Akane pointed. "There are two people inside!"
"Oh no!" Gosunkugi turned pale.
"Princess Akane," Mousse stood before her. "Please get me some sort of a staff."
"A staff?!" Akane huffed hastily.
"Like a branch."
Akane quickly examined her surroundings. There was nothing like that in sight, and the braches were too far up in the trees.
"Don't you have any weapons?" Akane asked him.
"Yes, but a staff would help."
"There isn't anything usable for a staff around here."
Boom! The creature stepped forward.
"Akane dear, please tell me where the monster is, and I will try my best to attack it from here." Akane was dumbfouned, but only for a moment. She placed her hands on Mousse's back turning him towards the monster.
"Right in front of you!"
"Very well." Mousse waved his sleeves, coiling his muscles, and released a blizzard of chains at the monster. Most of them simply tapped him and fell to the ground while a few others looped around him. Mousse used his strength to pick the monster from the ground. "Ungh! It's big!"
"Yeah! Release him! That won't help!" Mousse followed her orders, his chains swiftly returning into his sleeves. The monster lunged forward, about ready to stomp on them. Akane whirred Mousse around. "Run for it! He's going to squish us!" Mousse followed her blindly. After he ran into a tree, Akane grabbed his wrist and kept running. "Where's Gosunkugi?!"
Akane glanced over her shoulder. Now there was three people in the orb.
"I think he was taken by the monster!"
"Is he dead?" Mousse called back.
"No, I don't think so . . . Wyah!" Akane was brought to a sudden hault when some of the red vines wrapped themselves around her and Mousse, luring them into the stomach.
"This-This is the end!" Akane clutched onto her heart. "I don't want to die now! Ranma . . . .The orb was hollow. There was room to spare under the dark blue lighting. Akane braced herself against the end, rubbing her eyes. There were other people! Two of them were unconscious or sleeping, Mousse was awake and alert, and another woman trembling in the corner.
"It got you too?!" she clutched her heart. She breathed a sigh of relief. "At least you're awake. The others . . . they just collapsed."
"Where are we?" Mousse patted the "floor".
"We're inside the monster's stomach," Akane told him. "It's a large glass sphere of blue."
"Gosunkugi . . .?"
"He's-He's not in here, Mousse." Akane squinted to get a better look at the others on the floor. Purple hair, black ponytail...? "Ranma!" Akane joined his side. She turned him over so that she could see his face. "It is!" she squealed. "It's Ranma!"
"Ranma Soatome? Isn't that who we've been searching for?"
"Oh Ranma!" Akane hugged his head to her breast. "How long has he been out?"
"Only a minute or so," the woman with blond hair bit her nail without another flash of fear. It was hard to tell, but Akane was certain that she was a blond.
"Ooh," the girl clutched her head. "I'm so dizzy again . . ." Akane collapsed on top of Ranma just then. "Your friend just went unconscious."
"What is this?" Mousse adjusted his glasses naturally, feeling stupid about the results, but kept them on. He felt more safe with them on. Mousse heard a thud from the girl's direction.
"Are you . . . awake?" Mousse asked without a response. "I'm the only one now . . ."The creature had trudged on for hours, occasionally leaking in oxygen into the orb. Mousse sat quietly in the corner cross-legged, his sleeves joined, praying that someone wake up.
"Ah! My lovely Drumbicus has returned!" King Bakuchioh rubbed his beard. "Let's see what she's got!"
Drumbicus stopped before the front door of the castle. The glass opened, and eight veins reached in to retrieve the victims. Four victims unconscious, one awake.
"Hmm, three females, two men," King Bakuchioh observed the catch. "Tsubasa, you may awake," he shook his neice until she came to.
"Uncle?" the blond Tsubasa rubbed her eyes with a yawn. "What're you-" she paused. "I knew that creature had something to do with you!"
"I can't have you keep running away, my neice!" King Bakuchioh stomped. "You are the only heir to the throne!"
"It's not my fault you didn't have kids!" Tsubasa spat back. "I don't want your stupid kingdom!"
"There are so many opportunities you could make from this land," Mousse stood. "I recognize both of you. Your Majesty." Mousse bowed blindly to the king. "I'm a native to Arrald."
After breathing in some more oxygen, the others soon awoke, Shampoo last.
"Sorry about this," King Bakuchioh waved his fan of cards. "Who are you?"
"My name is Mousse, from Wonton city of Carnela. Princess Akane and I were out recently on search for her fiancee, Ranma Soatome."
"I don't believe I sent out for you."
"Well, I was with the princess when your Drumbiccus attacked us in the forest."
"Ah," the king gave him a nod. "This must be Ranma Soatome then." Ranma coughed until he was fully awake.
"What the-?! King Bakuchioh!!"
"Yes, Soatome. How have you been?"
"Not that great."
"Ranma," Akane poked him in the shoulder. Ranma stared at Akane face to face.
"And you are . . ."
"Who do you think, stupid?" Akane frowned.
"I know who you are!" Tsubasa jumped to her feet, her hands on her hips. "You're Princess Akane!"
"Whuh?" Ranma was lost in thoughts. This was Akane? His next guess would have been that she was a soldier. "Akane...?"
"Dummy," Akane cupped the ends of her hair. "It's short now."
"How . . . wierd," Ranma caught himself in a stare. "I've never seen a girl with short hair."
"Aiya," Shampoo sat properly. When her vision cleared, she declared out of King Bakuchioh, "How dare you?!"
"Release me, gypsy," King Bakuchioh pushed her away. "You may have to come serve me again, you know."
"Is threat?!" two soldiers rushed to cling onto Shampoo's arms. "Fight Shampoo!"
"Sh-Shampoo?" Mousse came to his feet, grabbing onto Tsubasa's shoulders. "You're Shampoo? The sorceress?"
"No. She is." Tsubasa pushed Mousse into Shampoo. She tried to kick him away.
"Let Shampoo free!"
"Let her go!" Mousse reached for one of the guards. "Please, release her."
"Let her go," the king waved smugly. "I want you to take these people to the guest rooms, doors guarded. Tsubasa, you stay here for a minute."Akane sat bewildered in a small cozy room about as far from the throne room you could get. She hugged herself while sitting in the dark corner away from everything that could have attracted company.
"Is this any way to treat royalty?!" she snapped. The soldiers outside her doors snickered.(Please this midi for effect) Ranma was with Mousse, in a medium-sized room, one bed, fireplace, and a vanity.
"So who are you?" Ranma asked casually.
"My name is Mousse, from Wonton." Mousse removed his glasses. "Please don't make any sudden moves, I am blind."
"Must be tough."
"You have no idea." Ranma tossed himself on the bed which was against the wall, lightly knocking on the wall.
"Hey, I think Akane's in this room."
Knock, knockitty knockitty.
Mousse's attention returned from his thoughts when he thought he heard crying. He crept carefully to the sound. It sounded like a little girl. It was Shampoo . . . Mousse sat on the floor, leaning against the wall.
"Oh Shampoo . . ." Mousse placed his palm against the wall. She continued to cry. Mousse shut his eyes tight, sharing the pain Shampoo must have been feeling.Shampoo got ahold of herself, slowing down her tears. She quickly wiped them away with her arm, but more came.
"Was better at Old Lady Witch's," Shampoo thought. She cleared her thoughts, sniffling. She hadn't cried in a long time. In fact, she always found it strange that she cried over some little things, and never did on bigger losses.
"Shampoo? Is that you?"
Shampoo jerked up.
"Who there?"
"It's me. . . Mousse . . ."
Shampoo crossed her arms.
"Ranma? Get Ranma."
"..... He's not in this room. It's just me."
"Want to be alone."
"Were you crying?"
"You spy on Shampoo?"
"No, I'm sorry. These walls are pretty thin, I guess."
"How long we stay? Here in this castle? Hate this castle!"
"I really don't know."
The door opened in Mousse's room.
"You," a soldier pointed at Ranma. "Come. King Bakuchioh needs you."
Ranma gave Akane one last knock and left.
"Gone . . .?" Shampoo asked of Mousse, hearing that his door had opened. Mousse didn't hear her, so he didn't respond. "Fine then. Mousse gone and leave Shampoo."
"No, I'm here."
Akane knocked on the wall hopefully.
"Mousse stay?" Shampoo lay herself on the floor, her ear pressed against the wall.
"Yes, I will stay . . . no matter what."
"Aiya," Shampoo half-whispered. She wrapped a string of hair around her finger."All right, what's this all about?!" Ranma stormed into the throne. "Let me and the others go, king!"
"Watch it. I could keep you here for the rest of your lives if you keep an attitude like that."
"Well darn! I want out!"
"Listen Ranma. You could have so many opportunities here. I want you to consider re-joining the knights."
"Despite what happened?"
"Uh huh," the king nodded with a grin. "You are too good to lose. Please say you'll come back. At least consider it. It would make your fiancee pro-oud."
That last sentence crushed all of Ranma's string of joy. "No! No way! I want to be taken back to Carnela tonight!"
"Hmm," the king fanned himself with some cards. "How's about you and your friends stay tomorrow for the festival? You could stay tonight and tomorrow, and leave first thing in the morning. Also, you'll need much more comfortable rooms. The ones you have are temporary, only until other rooms were ready."
Ranma softened. Akane is probably pretty tired, he took into consideration. "Okay," he turned to leave. "Tonight for sure, but all day tomorrow I'll have to discuss with the others."
"Play it smart Ranma," king smiled. "You're a good boy."
King Bakuchioh sent a soldier with Ranma "to give him permission to the other guards to talk among his company and move to better rooms.""Akane," Ranma knocked softly on the door. The room was completely dark, and even smaller than his room. A crack of light seeped in from behind him onto Akane's body, resting peacefully on the bed in the corner. He kept his locked about her in the darkness, having trouble determining whether she was really asleep. Ranma released a slow sigh, deciding what to do. When his eyes were better adjusted, he made a face at Akane's uncomfortable-
looking position. How does she sleep? Ranma questioned himself. He sat down next to her on the edge of the bed. Akane twitched with a low moan.
"Huh?" Akane blinked. "YIIAAAAAAAAAAH!" Akane swept her fists in a storm of fury with Ranma right in the middle of it. Ranma tumbled onto the floor with a thump and a groan. "R-Ranma?" Akane sat on the edge of the bed. "What're you doing here?!"
"You weren't supposed to fall asleep," Ranma rubbed his head. "I didn't want to wake you and since we are staying for the night. The king wanted-"
"You pervert!" Akane sent him a good whack. "So you wanted to sleep in ,my room, is that it!"
"You dummy!" Ranma snapped back.
"Aiya! We so lucky to get much comfortable rooms!" Shampoo chanted from out in the hall. "Akane-girl and Ranma come too?"
"Apparently the rooms were were only temporary until we decided to stay for the night," Mousse spoke in as-a-matter-of-factly.
Ranma sent a hard glare on Akane as if he was saying, "See? Now who's a moron.""Aaaaah," Akane was at a content rest in the hot spring indoors. "Just like at home." The door was flapped open by Shampoo as she approached the tub, covered by a towel.
Shampoo entered the water with an angered face, not speaking a word. Akane took this to offense.
"Um, is there something you want?" Akane asked her.
"No."
"You look upset. At me...?"
"Shampoo only a gypsy-girl. Expected Princess Akane to kick gypsy out."
"I don't own the tub," Akane tried to welcome her in. "You're as welcome as I."
Shampoo remained silent, accepting Akane's words. Her eyes dazed off into her dreams. Ranma . . . what would he look like in armor? Shampoo spoke these words aloud.
"I don't really know," Akane din't know what to say. "Guys in armor never really impressed me. I always thought the peaceful men who could heal people with their powers was my type, really."
"Shampoo love men in armor. Shampoo love Ranma. Wa da airen!" Shampoo kissed the palm of her hand.
"Now just a second!" Akane stood in defense. "Ranma, well he's-"
"He's what? Princess property?"
"Somewhat . . ." Akane slowly seated herself. "We were engaged, the same night he was kidnapped. Our parents arranged it all."
"Than pervert-girl no want Ranma . . ."
"I am not a pervert-girl!"
Akane quickly rinsed out the rest of the bubbles from her hair and left with a smirk. "This whole engagement thing is really none of your business, Shampoo. Besides though, I don't even want him."Ranma lay sprawled across his bed, hogging the whole thing to himself. (Please play this midi for effect)
"This is life," he gave himself a kitty-styled smile. "My bed at King Soun's . . . or in Carnela I mean, was much more comfy though . . ."
Ranma lay in perfect contentment and totally comfortable. Everything was off of his mind at the moment. His whiny father who always gets them into trouble, hungriness, wars and battles, being lost in a woods, the new engagement. I wonder if it will really happen, Ranma thought. We do have some say so in who we marry, don't we?
"Airen," Shampoo opened the door without a silent creak. In her hand she held a full candle, ready to burn all night, her face darkened as she stepped in. Ranma propped up against his elbows in his bed.
"Is that Shampoo?"
"Yes." Shampoo closed the door. She stepped towards him, a sphere of her body shown, placing the candle on the dresser next to his bed.
"What do ya want?"
"Ranma . . . airen." Shampoo's heart pounded when she uncovered her lovely body before him in the frail light. Her hair was about her shoulders, but not in any way to hide anything.
"Whuh-whuh what're you doing?!"
"Ranma, I love you!" Shampoo found it hard to resist covering herself. She had shown her skin to many people, but not this much and not in such a matter. "Say you love Shampoo."
"Shampoo, please leave!" Ranma halfway covered his eyes. "I-I-I barely know you!"
"Shampoo can wait. Just need to know Ranma's feelings." Shampoo sat beside him on the bed, wrapping her arm around his shoulder.
"No, Shampoo," Ranma tried to look her dead straight in the eye. "It can't work."
"Ranma . . ." Shampoo released him, keeping her voice low. "Ranma hate Shampoo now."
"I don't hate you."
"Not love Shampoo." Ranma didn't know how to respond, but found himself even more baffled when he realized Shampoo was crying.
"I'm sorry, look Shampoo, don't cry."
"Ranma!" Shampoo pinned him to the bed. "Love me, Ranma! Say you love Shampoo! Love Shampoo!" Ranma's cheek was moistened with her tears. "Love Shampoo!" Shampoo didn't realize how much she was shaking Ranma.
"Why can't I move?" Ranma thought in panic. "She-She's using magic on me!"
"Love Shampoo! Love Shampoo, Ranma!"
"No!" Ranma urged energy throughout his body but none came to the rescue except for his heart, "I'm-I'm engaged to Akane, dammit!"
"Akane . . ." Shampoo's tears and shaking came to a stop. Shampoo gave Ranma a look of pout and pity. "Is so sorry Ranma. So sorry . . ."
Ranma was locked completely. He couldn't move his wrists, he couldn't move his feet, his legs or his arms, nonetheless, his head.
Shampoo moved him in her own power as she undressed him. Ranma didn't do anything against it, or so it seemed. He was trapped within his own thoughts.
"Shampoo love Ranma with all heart," Shampoo hugged his bare chest.
"Is first time for you too?"
"Please don't," Ranma was able to say through his dry throat. "I could never . . ."
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