mabli@idirect.com

A Different Brand Of Mousse 3


A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic by Mark Ferrer


Disclaimer: All rights are reserved to their respective owners. Only the original characters are mine. Don't sue me, please. (Hmm, this disclaimer leaves room for crossovers doesn't it?)

Note: I honestly can't tell if I've taken some liberties with some/all of the characters. Sorry, I couldn't help it.
Thoughts are in <>
Normal dialogue is in "quotes"


Previous chapter: Mousse comes back to Japan and fights Ranma. During the fight, he sees that Shampoo has absolutely no feelings for him (aww). Gets advice from Nodoka Saotome (yup, Ranma's mom) to make him choose. Goes to Nabiki for help.

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     "So, where do you want me to begin?" Nabiki asked, heading towards the restaurants.

     Mousse thought about it and said, "I don't know. I guess you should start from the beginning." He followed and thought, <Great, she's going to try and sponge off me now.>

     Nabiki nodded and said, "Well, Ranma and his father arrived here about a year ago. He was coming to honour an agreement between our dads to marry their children to carry on the Anything-Goes art. Me and Kasumi picked Akane for the arranged marriage because she had a problem with boys."

     Mousse brow raised and said, "She doesn't like..."

     Nabiki cut him off with her hand and said, "My sister is not like that. She had to fight a whole bunch of guys every morning before school because of a speech made by Kuno that only people who can defeat her have the honour of dating her. Anyways, a few weeks later Ryoga came to settle a feud with Ranma because Ranma had deserted a pre-arranged fight and had accidentally pushed him into the spring of drowned pig."

     "I already know that. How about if I just tell you what I know about him and then fill me in on anything I don't know?" Mousse asked.

     "Fine by me. What do you know duck-boy?" she asked.

     "I'll have you know I'm cured." Mousse said. "I already know he's got a girl form and he's a heck of a fighter. What I need know is how he got involved with all the trying to get him?"

     Nabiki saw a coffee shop first and started leading Mousse towards it. "Since you know about Shampoo, I'll go on to the others. Tatewaki Kuno hates guy Ranma because he's engaged to Akane. He likes Ranma's girl form because of the bod. Kodachi Kuno hates the girl form because she thinks girl Ranma's after guy Ranma. Kodachi likes Ranma's guy form because of the bod." she said, easing herself into a chair near the windows. 

     Mousse sat across from her and said, "So, both Kunos like and hate Ranma at the same time. Heh, my duck form was a lot easier."

     Nabiki smiled the customary smile she gave to her high-paying clients.

     They were interrupted by a waitress coming to take their order. Nabiki ordered an expresso and Mousse ordered some tea. Nabiki turned back to Mousse and said, "Okay, back to the task at hand. Ukyo got engaged because Ranma's father, Genma, wanted her dowry, an okonomiyaki cart. Genma took the cart but left Ukyo behind. She repressed her femininity and dressed as a boy and practiced her okonomiyaki martial art. She came to Nerima to settle the score buy Ranma found out that she was a girl and said she was cute. That got to her good side real quick."

     The waitress came back with their orders. This time, she took time to scrutinize the two. <Hmm, that's one of the martial artists that hang around here. These two look to be planning something big. Good thing I'm leaving in four days.>

     Nabiki waited until the waitress left before saying, "That's pretty much it, is there anything else you have in mind?" She didn't take her eyes off him as she took a sip of her beverage.

     Mousse thought back and asked, "Tell me about Ranma's relationship with his mom."

     <What!> "Why?" she asked. <Damn, I must be losing my touch if he keeps surprising me like this.>

     "I met her today in a park. I noticed that I've never seen her around at your house. I guess my curiousity's just getting the better of me." Mousse answered.

     "Well, she doesn't know about Ranma and Genma's curse. Ten years ago, Genma made a promise that when he came back with Ranma, her son would be a man among men. If not, she would make them commit seppuku. It's kinda hard to be a man among men with a curse like Ranma's..."

     "What's seppuku?" Mousse asked.

     "Sorry, I forgot. It's an old Japanese tradition that when you are greatly dishonoured, you must commit seppuku, suicide. You take a small knife, a tanto, and disembowel yourself. If you hesitate or try to escape, someone, usually a family member, conveniently standing over you will cut your head off. Nodoka will be the one to watch over the both of them. The bundled package she's always carrying around is a katana. It's the Saotome sword and she has it ready to use it if she sees that Ranma
isn't a man amongst men. Whenever she comes over to my house, Ranma and Genma go into their cursed forms to disguise themselves. Ranma pretends to be our cousin from the country and Genma is her pet panda."

     Mousse looked slightly overwhelmed by all the information. 

     Nabiki noticed this look and asked, "Do you need me to repeat any of this?"

     Mousse snapped out of it and said, "No, I'm okay. I just have a lot of work to do." He finished off his tea and got up. "Thanks for the info. Now, how much to keep your silence?"

     She smiled and said, "Not many people remember about that. Any amount will do... but if someone were to give me a higher amount, I may have to tell them what I know."

     Mousse gave her an unsurprised look and placed another nugget on the table. "You're paying for my tea right?"

     "But of course, Mousse baby. Anything for my best customer." she said with all the sweetness of Kasumi.

     Mousse left the cafe and took out the recorder he hid in his robes. "I had no idea Ranma had such an interesting life."

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     Nabiki held both nuggets in her hand, feeling their weight. <Mousse is planning something big... Looks like I'll also be doing a lot of work.> She looked at the retreating martial artist. <How the heck did he get these? And since when did he start wearing sunglasses?> 

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     Ranma walked the streets of Nerima deep in thought. <Damn, where the heck did Mousse learn those moves? I've got to learn a counter or something. No way he'd just give up Shampoo just like that.> He looked up from his walk to notice that he was approaching the Nekohanten. <Cologne might know some moves but I don't want to have to owe her.> He turned around and walked another way. <At least Mousse has nothing to fight for anymore. That should give me enough time to learn a weakness or something.>

     "Ranma!" a voice called out from nowhere.

     Ranma looked for the owner of the voice to see Mousse coming through his void. <What the heck's that?> Ranma thought to himself. "What could you possibly want Mousse?" Ranma said, irritation showing in his voice and face.

     Mousse took out a piece of paper, gave it to Ranma and said, "I've come to issue a formal challenge. In a week's time, we will fight in the vacant lot near your house. If you win, I'll teach you my new moves. If I win, you must choose a fiancee."

     "WHAT?! Who's putting you up to this?!" Ranma yelled. <If it's pops or old man Tendo, I'll... I'll...>

     "These are the terms of my challenge. Do you accept?" Mousse asked, ignoring Ranma's questions.

     Ranma took the paper and said, "I, being the heir to the Saotome School of Anything-Goes Martial Arts is honour bound to accept." He felt like beating up Mousse for his arrogance but he knew he couldn't do anything.

     Mousse nodded and said, "Well, then I'm off." He materialized the void once again and was about to enter when he said, "You should know that I will be inviting certain people to the fight. You don't mind right?"

     Ranma stared at Mousse and said, "Your confidence will be your downfall Mousse. I don't care who shows up, I won't lose."

     "Either way, you better start thinking about who you like the most. It should be obvious but I know how thick you are. I'm giving you the week to choose, not to train." with that, he walked in and disappeared.

     <Life never gets boring.> thought Ranma, putting the challenge letter in his pocket.

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     Ukyo looked at the challenge letter Mousse had given to her. "So, you're fighting Ran-chan again?" she asked, looking at the Chinese boy.

     "Yeah, I have to. I want to end all this useless waiting." Mousse said tiredly.

     "Take my advice Mousse, you should look for new people other than Shampoo. You deserve better." she said in a motherly voice.

     Mousse smiled sadly and said, "Don't worry, I've given up on Shampoo. I'm fighting Ranma for something else right now. It concerns you so I hope you'll show up."

     "Don't worry, I'll be there for Ran-chan. Oops, sorry. I'll be cheering you both on." said an embarrassed chef.

     "I hope you'll forgive me afterwards." said Mousse said, leaving through his void.

     <I wonder what he meant.> Ukyo thought. <Waitaminute! How'd he do that?!" She inspected the place where Mousse had once occupied. <This fight's going to be interesting.>

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     "Hello, Shampoo?" Mousse asked unsurely.

     "Shampoo no forgive you for leaving Shampoo yet." Shampoo said giving him a shoulder colder than the Arctic.

     Mousse sighed and said, "I'm sorry Shampoo but I need to speak with you and Cologne."

     "Where have you been duck-boy?" Cologne said, throwing a bucket of cold water at the boy.

     Mousse looked down at himself and thought, <I still can't believe I'm cured.>

     Both women gawked at the wet boy.

     "So, you have found the cure, have you Mousse?" Cologne said, looking at Shampoo, who threw more cold water at Mousse just to be sure.

     "Mousse give Shampoo cure?" Shampoo asked cheerfully, forgetting that she was trying to ignore Mousse earlier.

     Mousse shook his head and said, "I'm sorry Shampoo but I was only able to find the cure for myself. It seems as if every curse has a specific cure."

     Shampoo's shoulders slumped and she returned to ignoring Mousse as much as possible.

     "It seems as if there have been many happenings to you over the past few days." Cologne said thoughtfully. "Have you come to return to your old job?"

     Mousse took out the invitation and said, "I'm inviting you to the fight at the end of the week between me and Ranma. I suggest you come because it concerns you greatly."

     Shampoo, who had been listening to the other two, came in and asked, "Why you fight? You lost chance for Shampoo?"

     Mousse smiled secretively and said, "Only Ranma and I know the prize for the winner." The void materialized behind him and he walked backwards into it.

     Shampoo was surprised but Cologne looked deep in thought. <Is this what Lather saw when he was little?> she asked herself.

** A shoulder length haired Cologne looked through the village they had laid waste to. They had completely devastated the village. As she looked through a barely standing house, she heard crying. She looked around to find that the voice was coming from a hidden compartment under the floor. With a punch, she opened it to reveal a baby boy.

     <Hmm, just a boy. Perhaps he would make a good servant.> she thought.

     "What have you found there Cologne?" asked someone from outside.

     "It's a baby. The villagers must have hidden him here while fighting. What should we do with him?"

     The owner of the voice came into the weather beaten house and said, "There seems to be a strange field around him." The elder took the baby from Cologne and coddled him. "Yes, there is something magical about this little one. A very powerful spell has been cast on him. We shall raise him to see if he has any latent powers. He could be of use to us." The elder left carrying the baby.

     Cologne looked around at the ruined house. <Perhaps there's still something here.>


     In the village, the wisest Amazons took turns trying to learn the secret of the magic surrounding the boy. All they were able to find out was that it the boy was completely emersed in the spell.

     The elder who had taken the baby from Cologne, Lather, held up the baby for everyone to see. "Hear this, this boy is to be raised as an Amazon, no one will reveal the true nature of his beginnings. He will be given to the family of Cream. Come and claim your first child Cream.

     Cream came up to where Lather was standing and took the baby. "For now and forever, this baby will be called Mousse."  **

     Cologne thought of Mousse's new powers. <Could this be what Lather had told us about?"

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     Mousse sat down cross-legged to concentrate on the position of his next target. <I haven't made anymore mistakes but it still takes so long to get the target.> he thought absently. He stretched the Mind's eye to look for Ryoga Hibiki.

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     Ryoga looked at the two piles of wood he had already cut up. They were already knee high. <Maybe a few more.> He readied the next piece of wood on the tree stump and pulled back his arm. He chopped the wood and the two pieces fell into one of the two piles.

     "Oh my! I don't think I need that much wood!" a voice from behind him exclaimed.

     Ryoga turned to see Akari Unryuu coming towards him with a tray of lemonade.

     "Hello Akari. I didn't hear you come up." he said unsurely.

     Akari was still looking at the two piles of wood. "Ryoga, maybe you could take some wood on your travels and sell them. I can't possibly use all this wood by myself."

     "That's a good idea." Ryoga said, clearing a way for her. He gave her the chair he had been sitting on. He sat on the ground.

     Akari set the tray down on the tree stump and poured out two drinks for them and sat down. "What's bothering you?" she asked, concerned.

     Ryoga looked at the two piles and said, "Doing this kind of work clears my mind. I don't always do it because something is bothering me."

     Akari seemed satisfied with the answer and looked at the chair she was sitting in. "Ryoga, where did this chair come from?"

     Ryoga looked shyly and said, "Oh, I made it while I was here. I guess it's a talent."

     Akari seemed impressed and said, "Can you show me?"

     Ryoga took a piece of wood and in a couple minutes, had fashioned a small chair from the wood and sat on it. Even though Akari had seen some of Ryoga's feats of strength before, she hadn't gotten used to it.

     "That's very good. It looks very strong." she said.

     "Yeah, it is." he said, putting his hand behind his head and laughing.

     "Am I bothering you two?" asked a voice.

     Akari turned around while Ryoga looked behind her.

     "What are you doing here Mousse? Did you get lost or something?" Ryoga asked.

     "No, I'm not lost. I just need to speak with you, privately if possible." he said, looking at Akari.

     Akari stood up and said, "I was about to check on Katsunnishiki anyway. It was nice meeting you..."

     "...Mousse." the Chinese boy answered.

     She left the two, heading for the famous Unryuu pig stys.

     "Two girls... you're beginning to be like Kuno." Mousse said after deciding Akari was no longer within earshot.

     "Hey, it's not like that!" shouted Ryoga. "Me and Akari are just friends!"

     "Whatever." Mousse said tiredly. "Anyway, I've come to invite you to a fight at the end of the week between me and Ranma. When I beat him, maybe you can finish him off if you want to."

     "Why should I come? I want to beat him myself!" Ryoga said, slightly quieter than before.

     Mousse looked at him and said, "This is important. You'll just have to trust me. So, are you coming?"

     Ryoga thought about it and said, "I'm coming because I want to see Ranma beat the crap out of you. I still haven't completely forgiven you for placing Akane in danger with that bomb from before."

     Mousse nodded and said, "You still haven't gotten over that? Okay, as long as you're coming. You might want to bring Akari. She could be interested too." Mousse materialized the void in front of himself and said, "If you're not there, I'll come and pick you up."

     Ryoga gawked as Mousse stepped through a hole in mid-air and vanish. <I'm coming for sure now!> he thought. <Maybe Akari would like to come with me. She deserves a break from raising all these pigs all day long.> "Hey Akari, you're not doing anything next week are you?" he called out to the girl.

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     In the Tendo Dojo, Genma-panda and Soun were shogi, in a world all their own, trying to hide their plans from each other. 

     <If I can distract him, I can get at least three pieces back.> Soun thought. 

     <If I can sneeze hard enough, maybe I might be able to blow my pieces forward and his back.> Genma thought, <This panda form must be good for something.>

     "I'm home!" Ranma called out.

     Ranma caught both men in mid-cheat. Soun in mid-fake-point and Genma-panda in mid-fake-sneeze.

     <Damn, better cover up the cheat.> Soun thought. He placed the hand he was going to use to point and put it behind his head. "So, what's new today Ranma?"

     Genma-panda covered his cheat with a fake yawn, then joined Soun in asking Ranma, [Yes, anything new?] in sign format.

     Ranma looked at the two and said, "Mousse challenged me. Hey Pop, I think I need to go on a training trip for this one."

     [Against Mousse?!] Genma signed.

     "Yeah, he has some new moves that almost beat me last time." Ranma said, sitting down beside the shogi board.

     [Sure.] Genma signed. <I thought Nabiki was exaggerating, but now...>

     "A training trip! Just the thing you two need some time to get to know each other better. If you know what I mean son." Soun said, hoping Akane wouldn't be too upset with him.

     For some reason, both teenagers didn't quite catch that last part.

     "Dad! I have school. What are you going to say to Miss Hinako? She won't like me and Ranma being gone for so long." Akane scolded her father.

     "Akane, it's really important that I go train. How could I ever call myself the heir to the Anything-Goes Martial Arts Dojo if I can't beat Mousse?" Ranma asked.

     "Fine, but I'm not going. I don't care if you two fight for Shampoo." she said, starting off to her room.

     Ranma turned and saw the two men coming towards him. "It's not like that!" Ranma shouted. "We're fighting for something different!"

     "What are you fighting over this time then?" asked Akane, who hadn't completely left.

     "If I win, Mousse will teach me the moves he used on me earlier. That way I could show I'm worthy of the Saotome school." Ranma said confidently.

     "What if he wins?" Akane asked.

     "Uh, if he wins, he uh..." Ranma trailed off. <Oh great, think of something. Off the top of your head.> "If he wins, he uh... becomes an heir to the Saotome school?"

     "HE WHAT?!" Genma shouted.

     <Hey, when did pops turn human?> Ranma thought absently. "He, uh... wanted to become a Saotome because he... he... wanted to get engaged to a Tendo girl?"

     "HE WHAT?!" Soun shouted, going into demon-head mode.

     <Oops.> Ranma thought. <Note to self, never think of something off the top of your head.>

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End Part 3

Author's Notes: Dontcha just love the Saotome family trait of putting your foot in your mouth?

So, it so good that you had to be hospitalized after being stunned at reading such an amazing piece of literature? (Author's head gets as big as a house) 
Was it so bad you banged your head on the nearest wall to try to erase your memory? (Author packs up and gets lost to become a hermit) Tell me at mabli@idirect.com. 
If you want any previous parts, you could email me for them.