Ranma's New Fiance

Ranma couldn’t help but look nervous when she joined Shampoo and Cologne in Cologne’s office. Ranma frowned at the numerous pictures of elderly Chinese women displayed on her computer monitor. “What is this?” she asked.

“Video conferencing, I got my great-great-nephew to set this up for me so that I wouldn’t have to go back to China whenever I have to discuss tribal matters. I have a business to run” Cologne said primly.

Ranma was impressed; their tribe certainly was anything but primitive. She turned when Mousse came in; he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. He hadn’t.

Mousse was so nervous that he forgot not to limp on his sore knee. He hadn’t let himself while working for fear of drawing attention to his injuries. He’d become an expert at concealing his abuse.

“Mousse, did you hurt your leg?” Ranma asked.

Shampoo glared a warning at him and Mousse quickly responded. “I was doing some acrobatics and landed on my leg wrong. It’s nothing, I just sprained it” he said with a nervous laugh and embarrassed grin.

Ranma blinked in surprise “that doesn’t sound like you” she said, she’d seen him run into things when chasing after Shampoo, but he was graceful and careful when doing acrobatics.

“It nothing, him be stupid” Shampoo said.

“We’ll begin now that all the parties are present” Cologne said and leaned over and said “you may present your verdict on their engagement now” into the microphone.

“Wow I never thought anyone would want to marry Mu Tzu after the incidence that happened to him” one of them were exclaiming to the other. Cologne cleared her throat to announce her presence while Mousse blushed, knowing exactly what they were talking about.

“What are they talking about?” asked Ranma “what happened to Mousse?” she questioned.

“Enough chatter, a restaurant can’t run itself. Please render your finding Elder Tal Kum” Cologne said.

“We agree to the marriage with some conditions. That would be that their marriage cannot be dissolved for five years and Ranma shall have to receive training to become a warrior and to serve on the high council of Youngers” Tal Kum intoned.

Mousse relaxed, there was no way that Ranma would accept those terms. She just wanted out of marriage of kiss or death and a quickie divorce.

Ranma was in turmoil, five years being married to Mousse? What if she became pregnant, what then? No Mousse was a guy and obsessed with Shampoo, he wouldn’t expect to have sex with her other than the one night. Five years and then her life was her own, how was it different from remaining in Nerima? Five years of living away from her mettlesome parents and free from people telling her what to do. “I’ll do it, on some conditions of my own” she said decisively.

Mousse’s mouth dropped open, while Shampoo turned pale.

“What conditions?” Tal Kum asked suspiciously.

“1. I want the council to pay to have Mousse’s eyes fixed by laser surgery. 2. I want a decent place to live with a modern kitchen and plumbing. 3. I want to receive in writing that my kiss of death or marriage to Shampoo is dissolved, a promise that she will keep away from my present spouse and anyone else I may marry in the future and a written apology for being a nuisance” Ranma said smugly. Shampoo gasped in outrage.

“We must confer” Tal Kum said and formed a huddle. She turned back to the monitor and said “we agree to your terms. Now when are you coming here to wed?” she asked.

“Give me a week, I have to settle things here” Ranma said.

Mousse turned to Shampoo in anguish, his fate was sealed and he knew it. He couldn’t believe that by giving Shampoo up, Ranma was still separating them. “Will you wait the five years for me?” he cried.

She snorted “I no wait five minutes for you” she replied and turned her back on him. She had been defeated and now Ranma would never be hers.

“Congratulations Ranma, you now must repeat your kiss and vow before the council to acknowledge your claim on your airen” Cologne said.

Ranma blushed; she was embarrassed that she’d enjoyed kissing him a little too much the last time. She walked towards Mousse. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights “Please you can still stop this” he begged her.

“I don’t have any more choice in the matter then you” she repeated and cupped his face to draw his lips down to hers. He allowed it as he was man defeated. He surrendered his lips to hers and shivered as she kissed him so softly. He brought his arms up around her and drew her close. He could feel her lips curl under his and wondered why he enjoyed kissing her so much; she tasted of dew and rainwater. Both were breathing a little funny when they parted and her vow was said in a distracted tone of voice. She wondered why her nipples were diamond hard and there was a throbbing between her legs. Was it her imagination or had she been poked in the belly by one of his weapons?

Mousse blushed at his reaction to her kiss and darted from the room. “Very well Ranma tonight shall be your night of discovery” Cologne said after she switched off her computer.

“What’s that?” Ranma asked.

“That is where you get to spend the night alone with your fiancé prior to your marriage” Cologne said. “Shampoo and I shall spend the night in a hotel” she offered.

Ranma blanched at this “we’re not expected to.....?” she asked.

“No though some couples do, however it is mainly to make sure that you can sleep together comfortably and they don’t have nasty habits like snoring or drooling” Cologne explained.

“Does Mousse know you planned this?” Ranma asked.

“He knows and will do whatever is necessary” Cologne said.

Tal Kum turned off the computer and turned to the person who was in the shadows. “We did as you asked Elder Mu. But don’t understand why you are backing this; your son’s clearly in love with Xian Pu” she said.

The tall, middle-aged woman strode forward. She was powerfully built and rather anemic looking, with her son’s eyes and short cropped black hair. “I have met this Ranma before and know her to be beautiful and honourable. Shampoo is beautiful too, but less then honourable. I’d sooner wed him to a warthog than her” she replied. “No this is a much better match for him, I feel it in my bones” she said.

Mousse sat on his futon and the tears started, he was getting married to a person who barely even tolerated him and wasn’t even really a girl to boot. He pulled out his pills and wondered if it was time yet. No Shampoo would wait, he had faith in her. She had promised she would always be there for him.

Ranma went back to the Tendo house to pack and softly knocked on Akane’s door. She answered, her eyes looked swollen from crying “what do you want Ranma?” she asked.

“I know that you’re confused, but let me explain” she whispered and she grudgingly let him into her room. “Akane I didn’t mean to hurt you, but couldn’t show favoritism to any of my fiancées until I got rid of the rest of them. I like you a lot better than the others, but can’t claim anyone. If I choose to marry another girl, Shampoo will fight her and most likely kill her. The only way I can get rid of her is by marrying another Amazon. So when Mousse accidently hit me with a boulder, I saw it as a way out. But the thing is I can marry him, but have to remain married to him for five years” he explained.

“So that’s why you’re marrying him, how does Mousse feel about this?” she asked.

“He’s not too happy about it, but will get over it” Ranma said dismissively. “We just have to play the happy couple in that time and than were both free”

“What will you do when that happens?” Akane asked, she still hadn’t forgiven Ranma for the violent comment, but now understood the situation.

“I thought that I would come back here and help you with the dojo” she said with a blush. “I don’t know what will become of it, but I figure that you’ll almost be done with college and we’ll both be older and more mature about making decisions”

“I know what you’re saying, but what if you fall for Mousse or become pregnant? That would alter everything” Akane said, always practical

“I won’t fall for him, he’s a guy and I’m not gay. As for pregnancy, Mousse assured me that he knows of herbs that will prevent that for when we....” Ranma said with a blush. “It is that you won’t like me because I had sex with a guy?” she asked her.

“I don’t know” Akane answered honestly. “I’m willing to see when you come back” she said bravely.

“I will be back Akane” Ranma promised her. “I want to spend as much time with you as possible before I leave”

“I’d like that” she said with a smile and then laughed when Ranma told her where she was spending the night. “I’d love to be a fly on the wall watching two enemies share the same bed” she said in amusement.

“I’m bringing my bedroll along” he explained.

Mousse

Mousse felt stupid when he changed into the striped pajamas that his mother had sent him for his birthday. He never had been a pajama guy, he normally slept in his boxer shorts or jogging pants during the colder months. He glared at Ranma’s amusement at his attire and climbed into his futon upon exiting the toilet room where he’d changed. His jaw dropped when Ranma skinned out of her clothes until she wore just her boxer shorts and undershirt, which concealed very little of her.

“Ranma didn’t you want to change into your night attire? Perhaps in the toilet room?” Mousse suggested, trying not to stare at her cleavage, or how well her full buttocks filled out her boxer shorts.

“This is how I dress for bed” she said in amusement at the other boy’s discomfort.

“You’re certainly not a lady” Mousse grumbled.

“You know it” she said and lay on her bedroll, which was almost right beside his futon. “Goodnight future hubby” she said in a sweet voice and reached over to turn off the light, ignoring Mousse’s snort of disgust.

Mousse was stuck in the same sick dream that repeated itself in the night, determined that he would have to relive the worst day in his life. He lay helpless and naked in the grass. He could smell the scent of dirt while his pale child’s limbs were pinned to the ground. He whimpered while the body hovering over him moved in his unwilling hole. He heard grunting like a pig while other voices taunted him for allowing himself to be taken like this, suggested that he was enjoying it and used crude words that he didn’t even know. “Please don’t, stop” he begged them and whimpered. Hands touched him and he reached for Shampoo and held her to him. “Shampoo?” he cried.

Ranma

Ranma woke up to hear Mousse crying out in the night and instinctively reached out her hand to see what was wrong. He was speaking in Mandarin, so Ranma had no idea what disturbed his dreams. “Mousse, are you okay?” she asked lightly touching his back, then suddenly she was enveloped in his arms and he called her Shampoo. She froze; she didn’t like anyone touching her girl’s body after her numerous encounters with Kuno, but relaxed when she realized that Mousse was just seeking comfort. She awkwardly patted his back. “Easy, it’s just a dream” she soothed and turned the light on. His eyes were wide with terror. She hadn’t realized that Mousse without his glasses on looked so young and vulnerable; she also hadn’t realized how beautiful his eyes were or how cute he was. ‘Cute?’ Ranma questioned herself, wondering where that thought came from. As she was spending more time in her female body, her female brain was adjusting itself. Her mind turned back to practical matters. He was quaking with fear and his pajamas were soaked right through.

“I’m fine, it was just a stupid dream” he said shakily and quickly released her.

Ranma wasn’t to be deterred. “Do you want to talk about it” she asked him.

“No, I’m fine” Mousse replied, imagining how Ranma would laugh she knew his secret. It was bad enough that other people his age back home called him weak and made fun of him.

“Let’s get you into some dry clothes and go back to sleep” Ranma suggested and started to unbutton his pajama top.

“No Ranma wait!” he said and put up his hands to stop her. She sucked her breath in to see the start of a large bruise and pushed his hands away, she determinedly undid the rest of the buttons until his chest was revealed. Experimentally She ran her hand along his side and felt at least three broken ribs.

“What did the other guy look like?” she joked. “Seriously, who else have you been sparring with, it’s been weeks since we last fought?” she asked him, and than noticed that there was multiple layers of bruising at various stages of healing.

“It’s nothing” he said sharply and pulled his pajamas closed.

“Shampoo, you let her beat you” Ranma said, she felt sick. It didn’t matter whether it was a male or female that was being abused, it was wrong.

“She gets into these moods” Mousse explained, it sounded stupid even to his ears.

“Look I don’t know if you two are sleeping together or what, but this isn’t a healthy relationship for you to be in” Ranma chided.

Mousse laughed without humour “sleeping with me? You actually believe that? She’s never shown the slightest interest in me sexually”

“So what it is then?” Ranma asked curious.

“When you love someone, you do whatever you can for them even if it hurts” Mousse said.

“Have you ever made love to anyone?” Ranma asked.

“No” Mousse replied ‘not willingly” his brains supplied.

“I haven’t either” Ranma answered.

“Really? With all those girls and guys after you?” Mousse asked. He’d always assumed that Ranma was getting it left, right and center. “Wait that means that on our wedding night you’ll be a virgin!” he exclaimed. He felt slightly better when she flinched at this. He smirked slightly “my mother always hoped I would marry a virgin” he said, there was no humour in this statement.

“You’re not going to be unnecessary rough are you?” Ranma asked.

“I’ll be as gentle as I can be” he assured her, he may find her annoying, but a virgin was still a virgin.

“I’m nervous” Ranma admitted.

“You could stop this” Mousse said.

“No I can’t” Ranma said and then surprised them both by lightly touching his chest. “I promise that this will never happen to you again. I’ll be the best wife to you that I can be” she vowed.

“I promise that I’ll be the best husband to you that I can be” he replied back.

With that vow, they went back to sleep and were somewhat baffled when they woke up the next the morning in each other’s arms. At some point during the night Ranma had completely rolled off her bed roll and joined Mousse in his futon. Both blushed deeply at the feeling of the morning wood nestled between their cuddling bodies.