Try as she might, Akane couldn’t sleep; with the current plan for an Amazon group marriage among the telepaths looking extremely likely, her current situation had gone from bizarre to downright twisted — and that was more than enough to keep her attention fixated on this specific issue, rather than dissipating into a slumber. Not that sleep would help me that much, she thought to herself somewhat bitterly. I don’t even get to keep my dreams to myself anymore.
At least everything was “quiet” now. Ranma had already gone to sleep, though how he managed to do so with all the extra “noise” in his head from his suitors still eluded Akane’s understanding. But that subject was little more than a diversion from the thoughts that kept repeating in her head: I can’t believe this is happening. Why did this have to happen? My reputation’s shot. They’ll think I’m a pervert. What am I— What’s that? Akane’s musings were abruptly interrupted by a tapping noise from her window.
She rose from her bed to see Shampoo standing on the clothes-drying balcony connected to her room. Akane quickly let the girl in. “Shampoo? What are you doing here?”
“Came to see if Akane was alright. Not in best state of mind when leave Nekohanten.”
“That’s putting it lightly. But still, to come to my room in the middle of the night? What if somebody saw you?”
“What would it matter? Akane going to be married to Shampoo tomorrow — others think that anyway.”
“I don’t see how you can be so calm about this.”
“It not that hard for Shampoo. Amazon not have problem with closeness between women, as long as they still willing to contribute to tribe by having children. Besides, Shampoo can enjoy affection no matter where it from, man or woman.”
“Hold on. You’re basically admitting that you’re attracted to women?”
“Well, not woman in general. Only specific ones.”
“Right… so, when you say ‘specific,’ does that include…?”
“You ask if Shampoo has had fantasies about Akane?” Receiving a nod in reply, the Amazon answered, “In honesty, yes. Many times, in fact. Akane is very beautiful woman. Shampoo may have said different before, but that just attempt to convince Airen to choose Shampoo. That not matter any more, so Shampoo can be honest.”
Akane, it seemed, had been expecting an answer like this, given that her reaction consisted of little more than a resigned sigh. “I’m not sure whether to feel complimented or offended.”
“Akane no worry. Shampoo not going to push Akane.”
“Why not?”
“Shampoo have too much respect for Akane as warrior.”
“What?! Since when do you have any respect for my martial arts skills?”
“Shampoo always respect; just point out Shampoo better to get Airen to pick Shampoo. Akane easily as good as most Amazons, but Shampoo champion of village. Long time, much training before Akane near as good.”
“Is that so?” Akane was clearly not pleased with this proclamation.
“Is so. Shampoo know it may sound conceited, is also true. But that not really matter. Akane could be great warrior herself with more training. Very respected Amazon. And with respect, private life becomes irrelevant.”
“So that’s why it doesn’t matter what gender you want to sleep with?”
“Well, not exactly. It actually much more complex than that. But that do for now.”
Akane seemed to accept this explanation, inadequate though it might have been, but she soon thought of a related point that had been bothering her. “Wait… if your society doesn’t have a problem with lesbians or bisexuals, why did you call me a pervert when we first met?”
“Akane make it seem like she want Ranma to keep curse. Only reason Shampoo could think of for that was Akane want Ranma to be in some kind of halfway form.”
“Halfway… you mean… a hermaphrodite?” Not for the first time that day, Akane felt a wave of revulsion, but this time, she was a little surprised to see that same emotion on Shampoo’s face.
“Yes… Shampoo not remember where, but heard that Japanese into that sort of thing.”
Akane looked shocked. “What on earth could give you that idea?”
“Well, recently, Shampoo find Mousse’s porno stash. Why he not keep it in clothes with everything else beyond me. In any case, Shampoo curious, flipped through first book on stack, dirty Japanese comic. Lots of halfway forms. Shampoo spend thirty minutes washing hands afterwards.”
Akane allowed herself a smile at the Amazon’s reaction. So it seemed that Shampoo did in fact have limits of her own; that was somewhat comforting. “I can’t help but agree with you there. But then, I am basically a prude.”
Shampoo looked confused. “Akane is dried plum?”
“That’s a prune. What I meant was that I’m just so damned old-fashioned that I can’t seem to be open to anything.”
“That not true. Akane agree to group marriage — sound pretty open to me.”
“I guess you have a point.” Akane stopped for a moment, as she suddenly realized that something seemed… unusual about the Amazon’s reply. “Hey, since when did you start using first-person pronouns?”
“Since link with Airen show just how stupid Shampoo sound when speaking Japanese — damn, forget to use pronoun again.”
“It’s alright… I can still understand you.”
“Shampoo not want to just be understood. Want to be respected. Martial arts only get one so far. That earn respect for body. Language earn respect for mind.”
“I… I suppose you have a point.” After all, before their first lucid dream, Akane had thought the Amazon to be nothing more than a large-breasted bimbo with a talent for beating her opponents senseless. Now, she knew that Shampoo was easily one of the smartest people she knew. I mean, her Japanese is already improving. Sort of. Rather than dwell on the Shampoo’s intelligence, Akane shifted the subject of conversation once again. “You still haven’t told me what you’re doing here.”
“Shampoo just wanted to make sure Akane okay.”
“But why?”
“Shampoo love Akane.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous! You can’t be in love with me.”
“Shampoo never say that.”
“Yes, you did.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No—”
“Yes.”
“No, Shampoo not say she in love with Akane. Shampoo say she love Akane.”
“It’s the same thing!”
“Does Akane love her father?”
The question was abrupt, and it took Akane off guard as a result. “What? Of course I do?”
“Is Akane in love with her father?”
“No! That’s disgusting!”
“So there is difference between loving someone and being in love, yes?”
“I… I guess so.” Akane had never really given it much thought. “So, what are you saying?”
“Shampoo never really understand concept of being ‘in love.’ As Shampoo see it, ‘love’ something you give to someone else, not something that happen to you. A person can love as many as they choose, as much as they choose.”
“But… but I don’t remember choosing to fall in love with Ranma.”
“You confusing love with romance. Romance is emotion. Love is verb. Shampoo never have any romantic feelings for anyone other than Ranma, and even that take time.”
“So, when you say that you love me, what you’re really saying is that you’re promising to love me?”
“Exactly.”
“I’ll be honest; that doesn’t make much sense — I mean, if that kind of love is a choice, it seems… less special, somehow?”
“But romance never last long. That why love needed in addition to romance to keep relationship going.”
“You really think that?”
“Shampoo think it main reason for high divorce rate in West. Divorce not necessary among Amazons; we smart enough not to think relationship only need romance.”
“But you act like it doesn’t need romance at all.”
“It doesn’t.”
Akane shook her head. “I just don’t get it.”
“Akane not need to get it. Have entire life to figure things out.”
“I suppose. Look, it’s really late, and I can’t think straight. I’d like to get some sleep.”
“Shampoo know pressure point that can help.”
“Thanks, but I’ll take my chances the old-fashioned way.”
“Suit yourself.” The Amazon walked back out to the balcony and prepared to leave.
“Shampoo,” Akane suddenly spoke up.
“Yes?”
“Thanks for stopping by. I… I just needed to talk to someone, I guess. Even if I don’t understand what’s going on.”
“No problem. Tomorrow, Akane will be Shampoo’s wife. Is least I could do.”
“Good night, Shampoo.”
“Good night, Airen.” Before Akane could reply, the Amazon slipped back into the night.
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(Posted Thu, 10 May 2007 08:13)
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