That made it easier to leave the creepy dead town, and everyone agreed that it was best to move one. Besides, they had better things to do, and were looking forward to continue on with their journey.
So, despite any urge that he might have had earlier to abandon some of the others, Genma looked about, making certain that everyone was ready. Leaving someone behind would be troublesome, and not only due to the difficulties that would be caused by having to look for them. They were already in a rather shaky situation as it was, seeing as the government here wasn't exactly friendly.
With that in mind, he counted up all the members of the group, making certain that he kept a complete count of who was ready to go. Fortunately, these weren't some lazy fools out of resort. There was experience there, and they knew what they were doing. Of course, many of them wanted out of the dead village, and didn't need prodding to be ready to be on their way. Due to that, keeping track of the tourists and the National Geographic people wasn't that difficult.
All that was left was to count his son and the girls with him, which he did quickly enough, coming up with a solid 'nine'. Seeing as there was a number large enough for the group, he considered things to be ready... but there was a nagging feeling that something was off. So, he wound up counting again.
Once more, he got 'nine'... and then realized that didn't sound right. After the boy, there was Usagi, Ami, Rei, Motoko, Minako, Haruka, and Michiru. That made for 'eight' heads to be counted, which certainly had. Since he'd been the one who'd lead the group in preparing to leave, he'd found it galling to be stuck at making sure that everyone was ready to go, especially since there was an added number to the count.
"What's the matter, Pop?" Ranma asked.
Genma blew a breath out of his nose and frowned. "I don't know boy. All I can say is that it looks like we're off in our count."
"Really? I don't remember seeing anythin' off...."
"I'm not wrong, boy. Why don't you count?"
"Easy 'nough. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven...." the pigtailed boy murmured, pointing to each of his Neogirls as he counted them. And then he turned his finger towards the girl standing at the edge of the group. "Eight?"
Everyone turned to look at the shapely figure with the lavender hair standing there.
"Who the heck are ya?"
"Am Shampoo," the girl replied, her voice thick with suppressed emotion.
"Where'd you come from?" Makoto asked, her eyes narrowing. "You just show up?"
"No, see you come into village, and go to see if chance could... help Shampoo."
"Don't you have anyone you know who can help you?"
A snort was the beginning of Shampoo's answer. "If could, would. There no way to stay at home."
"You were abandoned."
"Certainly not. Family no do that to Shampoo."
"Then what happened?" Rei demanded.
"Family and friends no abandon Shampoo," the Chinese girl bit out. "They taken from her. One by one they joining ancestors."
"And that means...." murmured Minako.
Ami lowered her eyes. "They were dead or dying, Mina-chan."
"Oh."
"Is so. There no place for Shampoo here," the purple haired girl admitted.
"And what makes you think there is one with us?" Genma scoffed.
His son scowled at him. "Pop, she might've just popped up, but ain't ya bein' a bit quick there?"
"Stupid boy!"
"I ain't bein' stupid! If anythin', you're the only moron I know!"
"How dare you say that to your father...."
"Only 'cause I'm right!"
"Not in this," the elder Saotome intoned.
"What's that supposedta mean?"
Instead of answering the pigtailed boy's question, the Saotome Patriarch turned to look at the new arrival. "You really haven't thought this through, have you? I'm not about to have my son get hitched to a girl off the side of the road. So, if you think that marriage is your way out, forget it."
"That not plan," Shampoo barked back.
"Good, but remember this. You can't seriously think that he'd take you in."
"Why not? Is not that his decision?"
"Are you ready to be his Neogirl?"
"What?"
"It's really simple, girl," Genma stated, crossing his arms over his chest. "This isn't some game. The truth is that the only way that you'd be able to come with him is as his Neogirl. You'll be his pet."
The Chinese girl's eyes went wide as she looked at the elder Saotome man.
"I see that you understand."
"Shampoo get it."
"That's good to hear. To tell the truth, the boy already has enough of you girls as it is. Bad enough his mother keeps on sending new ones for his birthday, but now he's picked up two strays," Genma sighed.
"Then perhaps it time for one more."
"Eh?"
Shampoo let her hair block her face as she hung her head. "This might be what Shampoo has to do. Already know can't go back. Might as well take way forward."
"You seriously can't mean...."
"Just what being 'pet' would mean for Shampoo, Shampoo not know. Not even clear that have to become 'pet' is needed. But one thing is clear."
"And that is?"
"Shampoo have to go with boy who have hair in pigtail!" insisted Shampoo, unshed tears making her eyes glitter with the determination that shone in them as she looked defiantly back at the group.
"This can't be happening...."
Snorting at his father's words, Ranma turned his attention to the shapely purple haired girl and wondered what to make of her, while:
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(Posted Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:39)
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