Finding Your Way Home

Ranma got more comfortable with Mousse as she stayed with him. The best part was that he didn’t question her about what had happened to turn her into a junkie as she wasn’t ready to tell him yet. It was too embarrassing. When he’d known Ranma, he was a martial arts god engaged to four beautiful women who’d competed for his attention all the time. He was both handsome and talented......a somebody, not like now where he’d lost everything....even his manhood. Yet Mousse was there for her to take her to her counseling and methadone treatments. He did all of his own housework and asked her for nothing. Yet he still hadn’t told her about what had had happened to the girl in the photos and Ranma sensed a sadness and loneliness in him.

She woke up on a bright sunny day and looked out to see that Mousse’s garden was gently covered with new snow. She sighed and pulled on her robe and noticed that Mousse wearing a gi on his way to the dojo. He liked to do katas in the morning as it helped loosen him up and focus on the day ahead, he’d explained to her. On impulse she pulled on her new clothes and brewed some tea to join him.

Flashback

Ranma was nervous about shopping as she’d never technically shopped for female clothes before; she’d always worn the same ones in the past whether male or female. “I don’t know about this” she said as Mousse pulled into the mall parking lot.

“There’s nothing to it, most clothes are fairly unisexual. We just have to find out what you like” he soothed.

“But what if I don’t like girl’s clothes?” she asked him.

“Then we get you boy’s clothes in smaller sizes. Just try on clothes until you find something you like” Mousse said opening her door and pulling her gently out. He laughed at the panic on her face. “Come on its just clothes, you bought them before” he pointed out.

“Not for this body” she said staring in disgust as her petit frame. It seemed like a traitor to her......and a horrible lie.

“You can’t spend the rest of your life in tracksuits. You need everyday clothing you can put on and feel good in” he explained.

“I guess” she said and allowed the Chinese man to lead her. Her breath caught when he led her into a huge Chinese import store.

“This is the girl I told you about” he said to the sales girl.

“Oh wonderful, I got what you ordered” she said and went into back and returned holding a red and black outfit that matched her favourite outfit from Nerima, only it was smaller.

“Mousse?” she said in surprise.

“I thought you might be missing your old clothes, so I had some special ordered for you. The great thing about being Asian is that we are the ultimate cross dressers and both sexes tend to dress alike. I may be bad when it comes to guessing sizes, but I know Chinese clothes. Let’s see what else you like”

Ranma could only smile at how thoughtful he was and they became like kids in a candy store running around trying to find clothes for Ranma until she had both a summer and winter wardrobe in the plain solid colours with pants that she preferred. She even had chosen some of the long robes like Mousse preferred to wear. “I don’t know how to thank you” Ranma said gratefully, feeling like herself again in the familiar garments.

“Just wear them, that’s enough for me” he said smiling at her, it was then that she noticed how attractive his long lashed green eyes were. She shivered a bit to notice beauty in another man.

End Flashback

Ranma pulled on a dark blue shirt over the tank top she had taken to wearing in place of her undershirts and tugged up a pair of black pants. The panties had taken some getting used to, but were completely comfortable now. She wondered if that had something to do with being forced to adapt to being a female. Pulling on her boots, she joined Mousse in the dojo. He looked at her, but continued to work out on a training dummy and then did some shadow sparring. Ranma noticed as she had before that Mousse was graceful and moved well, but his positioning always seemed a little off. She wondered if that was the reason why she had always been able to defeat him. She wondered if he would be offended if she pointed out his weaknesses to him and then decided against it. She owed him enough without insulting his training. She noticed that he seemed to use some of the same flashy style as Cologne and Shampoo, with a little of another sort mixed in.

“Are you here to spar with me?” Mousse asked her as he wiped the sweat from his brow and sat down beside her.

“I thought you might like some tea” she said, holding up the pot.

“I’d love some” he answered, accepting a cup. “Perhaps you would like to join me in the mornings?” he suggested. “We can train together and spar against each other”

“I-I don’t know. It’s been a while since I did any martial arts” she replied and bit her lip that something that used to seem like the most important thing in her life seemed so irrelevant now.

“I thought you used to live and breathe them” Mousse said.

“I kind of had to let them go. I don’t see you wearing your hidden weapons robe all the time like you used to?” Ranma countered.

Mousse gazed ahead thoughtfully “It used to consume me to, and then I realized that there was no reason to challenge the world anymore after Shampoo was gone” he said, he’d explained to Ranma what had happened.

“At least you didn’t quit due to an addiction problem” Ranma said bitterly.

Mousse set down his cup and realized it was time that Ranma knew the whole story of his leaving Nerima. “That almost happened to me” he said. Ranma’s head swiveled in surprise to hear him admit that. In a pain filled voice he explained, “when I moved here I knew no one. I rented an apartment hotel by the week and spent most of my days and nights roaming the streets because I was lonely. One day I decided to go into a bar and ordered my first drink, I’ve always been tall and looked of age. I finally found what I was looking for in that dismal place; companionship. I would buy rounds of drinks and people would talk to me, their sad stories made me feel a little better about my situation and I found myself matching them drink for drink. It got to the point where I would stumble to bed drunk and stagger to the bar as soon as I woke up. I guess I found acceptance and a way to mitigate my grief over losing the only woman I thought I would ever love that way. I almost hit rock bottom when something happened to me” he said and paused.

“The girl in pictures?” Ranma prompted.

“Suzie Quan, or Suzie Q. as everyone called her. She owned the diner next door to the bar and everyday she would bring the owner his lunch. I would catch her staring at me sometimes when I noticed her at all. She was kind of plain and although I hate to admit it, I grew up surrounded by beautiful women and never really notice plain girls. But almost every day she was there and she would watch me for a few minutes and then leave. One day however she came to the bar after her diner closed and took my hand said “let’s go, its time for dinner.” I was so stunned by how aggressive she was being that I followed her. She sat me at her table (the one we eat off each night) and made me drink tea while she prepared dinner”

“This house was hers?” Ranma guessed.

“The house, the diner and the car, I bought them from her sister when Suzie.....” Mousse said and seemed to be struggling to keep his tears in check. “I sat at her table and she served us dinner. I couldn’t have been much company as I was so smashed, but I was starving after not having eaten a decent meal in days and ate everything in sight. Then she said it was time for bed and had me sleep in the bedroom that is currently yours. When I woke up the next day, she told me it was time for work. I barely even remembered the night before and had no clue what she was talking about. When I tried to argue that I didn’t even know who she was, she told me her name and made me eat breakfast and drove us to her diner in that crazy boat of a car and made me wait tables! When I protested that I was rich and didn’t need to work, she told me that I had way too much time on my hands, if I could drink; I could work. So I did, I became a waiter at her diner and had no time to even duck next door for a drink. I moved in with her soon after and started to notice how kind she was to everyone, how she really cared about the homeless and how she would feed them. That she would never back down from a cause if she felt it was good. I started to see how beautiful her soul was and finally how her smile made her whole face light up. Well, I started to see that smile more and more and then I realized that I was in love. I took her to bed with me that night, I was a first time for both of us, but it was wonderful. We had two years together and then she-she.......” Mousse had to stop for a hitching sob.

“What happened?” Ranma asked softly, moving so that she could rest her hands on his trembling shoulders.

He looked up, surprised that she touched him as she didn’t seem to like to have people touching her. He drew in a shaky breath, “it was new years eve. The diner’s a popular place for people to go, who either don’t like drunken crowds or aren’t old enough to drink. Suzie would make a buffet and mocktails for regulars, it was a fun night and the dance floor was always crowded all night. When we closed shop it was very late and all we wanted to do was go home. I’d stopped drinking by then and she simply had never enjoyed the taste of alcohol, so neither one of us wanted to go out. We were just crossing the street to the Caddy when a car came out of nowhere; the driver was drunk. You’d think with my years of martial arts training that I would have reacted fast enough to push her out the way, but it was her who did that to me. He struck her; she died almost instantly” Mousse sobbed.

“Mousse I’m so sorry you lost your girlfriend” Ranma said gently and eased her arms around him and held him tight.

Mousse accepted her comfort and then said “she was my fiancée, we were going to be married” he finished in a voice so low that Ranma had to strain to hear him. “She had even bought her wedding kimono; I found it months later when her sister insisted that we pack up her things for charity. It would have looked so beautiful on her” he said in a dreamy voice. Ranma only tightened her arms around him and felt bad for him that he had lost his love and bad for herself who had never had love to begin with.

Presenting Fast Frankie’s Diner

Once Mousse had opened up to Ranma, she felt that it was time to tell her about her own.....situation, but wasn’t quite ready to. A couple of days later Mousse said it was time for her to start waitressing.

“I know that Suzie thought it did wonders for you, but can’t I just be a fry cook?” she asked with a groan.

“Idle hands almost turned me into an alcoholic, its good therapy” he said giving her a friendly smile that caused her to blush when she found herself admiring his good looks. ‘I’m losing it’ she chided herself.

“Here we are” he said pulling up in front of the diner. Ranma’s jaw dropped to view a real 1950’s diner. The chrome and glass building was shaped like a boxcar and it read, in red neon letters “Fast Frankie’s Diner” with a strip of pink neon and a strip of turquoise encircling the outside of the roof.

“Wow this is it?” Ranma said awestruck.

Mousse chuckled and opened up the door “that was my reaction too the first time I saw it” he said, opening the door and holding it for her. There were black and white tiles on the floor with room for an actual dance floor in front of an authentic Wurlitzer jukebox. It was beautiful with its chrome, glitter and rotating columns that magically changed colours. The counter top was turquoise and waved with pink chrome light on it. On the walls was more turquoise with pink chrome lights and the booths had the same theme. Ranma was surprised when she saw that even the appliances seemed to match the 1950’s theme.

“What is all this?” she asked.

“Suzie’s grandfather spent about ten years in America and feel in love with it; well with how it was back at the time he was there. When he came back, he tried to bring America with him and opened this diner. It was a hit back then and still remains so today.

“So all of this is authentic?” she inquired.

“I’ve had to update things according to health codes and efficiency, but for the most part, yes” he said appreciating her interest.

Ranma turned when the juke box started playing and watched in surprise when a young waitress pulled a young man dressed like a greaser onto the dance floor. They were surprisingly good as they swing danced to “Chantilly Lace” by The Big Bopper. Ranma noticed that everyone in the bar was watching it like it was nightly entertainment and applauded them off the floor.

“Peggy Sue, I have someone for you to meet” Mousse called to the young women.

The girl up close looked to be younger then Ranma supposed, she wore a curly blond wig with black cat eye frame glasses. She wore a turquoise uniform with a pink handkerchief point apron, a matching hat, collar and cuffs. She had a sheer scarf tied jauntily around her neck and rhinestone broaches adorned the top of her uniform. In dress and demeanor she seemed older then her years, but her school girl face made Ranma feel.....queasy. She had a face that could only be described as cute with her girlishly round features and wide brown eyes.

“Mousse how many times do I have to tell you that when I’m a blonde I’m Lindy Hop?” she protested and smiled encouragingly at Ranma.

“Sorry I can never keep all of your identities straight, Ranma this is Reiko. She’s my part-time waitress. Her boyfriend, Nabu runs the grill part time was well” Mousse explained.

“I’m also the full time dresser for the other waitresses” she protested.

“That’s true, she’s the resident drama queen” Mousse said fondly.

“He means to say that I keep it real around here. Nice to meet you Ranma. My gods is your hair colour the real thing? I love it!” she enthused; she wondered why the older girl suddenly looked sad.

“Yes being a natural redhead’s wonderful” she said in a strange voice.

“Hey we can dye it or I have tons of wigs if you don’t like it. But we need a name, wait I got it. You’re Mary Lou!” Reiko cried.

“Mary Lou?” Ranma said.

“She likes to use old song names for her characters” Mousse explained.

“B-but, but” Ranma said as the younger girl pulled her away. “Mousse take over, I’ve got some creating to do” Reiko called over her shoulder.

Ranma was overwhelmed when she was dragged into a very plausible dressing room and she was soon wearing one of the uniforms. All she could do was stare at herself in disbelief. “You have a decent figure, but should gain some weight. Girls were more rounded in the 1950’s. I must say that you’re brave not to wear a bra” Reiko commented as she carefully made Ranma up (Ranma had been too intimidated by the pint sized fireball to protest). “There” she said spinning the bewildered girl around. Ranma’s eyes widened to see herself in make up. It was subtle, but there, her lips were now a fetching crimson colour, a faint amount of rouge painted her cheeks and her eyes now sparkled with subtle light purple eye shadow applied to her eyelids and smoky grey eyeliner, drawing attention to her vivid blue eyes. “I don’t know about this” she said nervously.

“You look beautiful, anyone can see that. Now for hair, are you sure about this pigtail? That’s so middle school” she said touching it with a frown.

“What would you suggest?” Ranma asked her as gentle fingers ran through her hair.

“I thought you would never ask” Reiko enthused as she plugging in her curling iron.

Mousse was helping his other waitresses serve when a new girl he’d never met stepped out. She was lovely with her red hair styled into soft ringlets. He frowned and wondered if Reiko had been hiring people around his back again. “Excuse me Miss, when did you start working here?” he asked.

“Mousse, it’s me” Ranma said in amusement.

“Ranma?” he said in shock and blushed when he remembered his attraction to her.

“Uh uh boss, she’s Mary Lou like the song” Reiko said.

“Whoops gotta get back to work” Reiko said, dashing to seat one of her best customers (and highest tippers).

“She’s a regular pistol” Mousse said, drawing attention to Reiko to hide his own embarrassment. .

“She’s something alright” Ranma said, troubled by her age. “Why did you hire such a young girl?” she demanded.

Mousse looked somewhat startled at the accusatory note in her voice “I didn’t, she came with the place. She’s been a fixture in here for years. Apparently she hung out so often that Suzie had to give her a job when she legally could” Mousse explained.

Ranma narrowed her gaze at him “so you didn’t hire her because she was young and sexy?” she asked him.

“No she’s like a little sister to me. I allow her to decorate her uniform however she wants as long as she doesn’t alter it. She does the swing dancing only because she wants to and she and Nabu have been dating since she was twelve. I would never put a female in a position that is uncomfortable for her. Reiko’s a natural actress and I like to encourage that in her. She’s had a hard life” Mousse explained.

Ranma felt a sense of relief “good, I was just wondering” she said. “I best get back to work, I guess I’m taking section 4 according to Reiko” she said in a falsely bright, happy tone and left.

The day went by in a blur of happy customers; Ranma would pause only to watch Mousse dancing with one of the other waitresses when the juke box kicked on by itself. She was surprised how well he moved and spun his partners about to the jitterbug, the madison, the lindy hop and many other dances that Ranma had no idea what they were. She was especially relieved to see that Mousse did indeed treat Reiko like a little sister. Not that she really thought the worst of the situation, but you never can tell what goes on behind closed doors.........Ranma had found that out the hard way.

The withdrawal symptoms came on Ranma towards the end of her shift as they some times did, seeing how new she was to methadone. She immediately retreated to the dressing room as she didn’t want to worry Mousse. The doctors had prescribed her supplementary medication for when this happened. She took it out and her shaking hand caused her to drop the bottle. Sweating and shaking, she groped the floor for it when Reiko walked into. “Ranma are you okay?” she asked her in concern.

Ranma looked at her then suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous. As if reading her mind, Reiko ripped the flowers out of a large vase and massaged Ranma’s back while she heaved into it. Placing it on the ground, she crawled to retrieve Ranma’s pills and gave her the correct dosage with some water.

“Thank you Reiko, I have a condition” Ranma said.

“You’re a junkie who’s trying to quit” she stated.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“My older brother was one too; my mother and I nursed him through his withdrawal symptoms when he quit cold turkey. He’s been clean for two years now and is going to university. He went through a bad patch when he was younger; he used to run with gangs and got into drugs. That’s all behind him now” she explained, her face was suddenly older and tougher.

“How did he manage to quit?” Ranma asked.

“My mother bribed a morgue attendant to let her take her son in there. She pulled out an empty drawer and said that’s where she’d been visiting him next if he didn’t get straight. It must have made an impact, because he quit the next day. Cold turkey feels like death, but you get reborn at the end of it apparently. Let’s face it; methadone only switches you from one addiction to the other. If you are completely sober, you can take the cravings one day at a time” she replied.

Ranma had had the same suspicion about methadone and this girl had just confirmed it “do you think I might be able to speak to your brother?” she asked.

“Sure, he’s always willing to speak about his experiences to others in the same boat. I’ll call him” she said and slid out her cell to dial home. After a few minutes of conversation she returned, “he said he could see you tomorrow” she confirmed.