Shampoo stepped forward, the trees rustled as the wind slightly began to pick up; oddly enough at the moment of her entrance into the scene. There was a difference with how she looked before their last encounter and now, for one she had dirty clothing and messed up hair and her clothes even seemed to come with small holes on it.

Ranma's first instinct was to push Ryoga away but before she could even make the attempt Ryoga forced himself to stand. The fire in his eyes bright a fire to Ranma cheeks, only reminding her of how attracted Ryoga was to her. "Ryo-"

"I'm taking her down, Ranma... she's threatened you enough, I'm tired of her making me think of a life without you," Ryoga countered the red headed girl before she could try and say something in her defense.

Shampoo's pupils became as small as pin needles, there was nothing that was going to get in her way. There was no way she was going to show sympathy to some girl with a boyfriend, her very honor was at stake, besides that she wasn't about to end up losing to some patheic boy, some pathetic boy that was barely able to stand. "You talk like you can win... but girl is dying today, Shampoo no let stupid boy stand in way," she claimed, looking thoroughly offended to be standing before the fang toothed boy. 'Shampoo need to careful... dat power could be from stupid boy or from stupid girl' Shampoo thought as she stood her ground.

Ranma's eyes widened as she came back to reality, finding herself annoyed with the fact she just seemed like a damsel in distress. That didn't sit too well with Ranma, she wasn't about to be protected like some pampered princess. Though much like Shampoo she wasn't sure if Ryoga was that one that created that tremor from before, but she figured he might have. What caused him to be so exhausted? Getting to the level of exhaustion Ryoga was at would take an immense about of training, which Ranma had to believe would take much longer than it took her to find him.

"Ryoga, we gotta' take her on together or we're-" Ranma began but stopped the moment Ryoga held his arms in a crossed position and then extended his hands out, all while his body was emitting a darkened aura of sorrow.

Ryoga was putting his feelings of confusion and sorrow together, coupled with his thoughts of Shampoo actually succeeding in her claim. Ryoga's breathing became shallow as his hands were extended, it seemed as though he was struggling with his energy. "Shishi-"

Shampoo's instantly felt like a deer caught in headlights, there wasn't much she could do if Ryoga was actually planning to use a ki blast. Those were often meant for more skilled martial artists. That caused her to panic and lean back, afraid to be actually lose to someone like Ryoga. "Not is possible!" she declared, stepping back and cowering at the site of Ryoga's hands.

A small speak of energy began in the middle of Ryoga's hands, the speak grew into a sphere and was beginning to become threatening as every second ticked by. "Hakuda-" the fang toothed boy said before his hands was suddenly tilted upwards and released a premature blast, letting it travel into the sky.

"G-Great grandmother?" Shampoo gasped as she saw that her elder of a grandmother had arrived just in time.

Ranma by this point still had to process everything that just happened, Ryoga was the one caused that mini-earthquake from before. Not only that Shampoo was actually cowering in fear of him, which also took her for a loop. All of a sudden Cologne appeared with her cane pointed upwards as to show that she had been the one to redirect Ryoga's lion's roar shot.

Ryoga cringed as he tightened his eyes shut and fell to his knees once again, his body feeling numb at this point.

"As nice as it would be to come across a situation where you would be engaged to two men, I have to intervene..." Cologne commented, humming to herself as she narrowed her eyes at Ranma.

Ranma, during Cologne's little comment, actually ran over to Ryoga and caught him in her arms, making sure that he wouldn't fall and hit his head.

Ryoga at this point was barely conscious as he was staring at Shampoo, although he was leaning to being unconscious his determination still showed through his eyes; pure adrenaline supporting him now.

"What is you meaning? How Shampoo be engaged to anyone? She no get beaten by man!" she declared, turning back to Ryoga and hoping this would her moment to take down Ranma and Ryoga.

"Mph!" Shampoo groaned as she was halted by Cologne's staff, as it came on contact with Shampoo's abdominal region, causing her to grab her stomach.

"You a deplorable amount honor, great granddaughter, the lion you tried to tangle with would have surely beaten you 'had' I not intervened 'child'," Cologne responded.

Shampoo stopped for a moment, feeling tears well up in her eyes. The burden that had been placed on her was too terrible to remember, squinting her eyes she shook her head.

Ranma watched the exchange before she turned to Ryoga and tried to shake him, hoping she could wake him and allow them to try and escape. "Come on, Ryoga... we gotta' go, come on..." she said, shaking the boy back and forth a bit but that had only caused him to sigh and relax into Ranma's arms, to him, if there was any way to die it was in the arms of the beautiful red headed girl he fell for; there was certainly no better way to go than that.

Stolen story; please report.

"He seems awfully attached to you, I pray that you don't become to attached to him... cursed animals usually have such tragic ends," Cologne commented.

"W-What are you going on about, you old-crow?" Ranma replied, gulping. The tone in Cologne's voice frightened her, hoping that Cologne wasn't drawing to a certain conclusion 'Please Kami-Sama, if you can give me just one thing, please don't tell me she's goin' to say-'

"Their lifespans are much too short to really be acquainted with anyone," Cologne confirmed, watching the expression of shock coming to Ranma's face.

Ranma drifted her head down to the Ryoga boy in her arms, his soft hair brushing against the wind. She gritted her teeth and slammed one of her fists to the ground next to Ryoga's tired body, "Ya' didn't tell me this sooner, why...?" she stated, venom in her voice. Picturing Ryoga's lifespan limited to the average lifespan of his animal body, she didn't farm animals but she knew that his life was limited to less than twenty years.

"I honestly thought you expected this and had already been expecting his early demise..." she stated, "Now let me ask you something, did you honestly think that his curse would extend his lifespan? The curse works with his true self, so, that means he's bound by nature's law, much like you and everyone else only through drastic means may he be able to obtain a longer and more fulfilling time scale, but that is way beyond your reach and you don't have the means to obtain such measures... unless..." she stated, taking a few steps to stand before Ranma.

Ranma seemed to be fighting back tears as she maintained a strong front, her eyes filled with rage as she was ready to harm the old bag but knew that would have been a fruitless effort. It only served to frustrate her even more, but then she implied the other thing that she had been hoping to avoid, marrying a ruthless and somewhat heartless looking Shampoo.

"If you give yourself to the promise that is made here in our culture, then you would be able to extend his life and even possible be a proud and important person within the village, not only that I could teach you my vast arsenal techniques, no doubt you'll be a warrior of true strength, why do I say this? Because I can see vast potential in you, my sources are quite reliable..." Cologne said, hoping to convince Ranma with her promises, promises that she could in fact actually keep, her status in the group of elders certainly entitled her to use of powerful artifacts.

Ranma continued to ponder the questions posed to her, what was the point of being stronger if he couldn't have Ryoga alongside there with her? She had grown so accustomed to the fang toothed boy that she had big plans for the both of them. Though she wanted all these things, she now knew that it most have only been a fantasy... since Ryoga's life was so limited. The idea of her and Ryoga training together, only to meet a sad end when he perished of old age but before that would come the signs of fatigue from getting closer and closer to his death clock.

"I can see that in his short time together with you, you have grown a deep friendship..." Cologne commented, not considering Ryoga a romantic threat since she believed Ranma to be entirely straight and forced into awkward positions. "I urge you to save your dearest friend and continue your legacy within our tribe..." noticing the reluctance in her face, Cologne sighed and turned around.

"You have one month to accept my offer... use this time wisely, child." Cologne stated, before turning to Shampoo and walking forward, gesturing for the purple haired girl to follow. Shampoo pouted before shaking her head and sighing, following even though she wanted to settle her score with Ranma.

"And be careful with that boy... he has stumbled across a very powerful depression ki skill, if not monitored it could prove to be quite hazardous, especially at his level of ki."

Ranma found herself in a fragile state of mind, not sure how to handle the situation. How would Ryoga react to seeing her being engaged to Shampoo while he clearly had a thing for her and her girl form? She knew it would only tear him into pieces, but was it worth it to give Ryoga the lifespan he deserved? Such a kind and caring boy like him deserved to be happy. 'I-I can't tell him... he'd just panic... he'd... he'd... aww... damn it! What do I do?' she thought. She had power and the ability to extend Ryoga's life in the palm of her hands, but wouldn't that mean breaking Ryoga's heart? 'Maybe I oughtta' do what the old crow wants, I'm not even really into guys and-' she paused, not sure as to why she felt the need to halt her internal dialogue, feeling that her thoughts we a little less than truthful.

"R-Ranma..." Ryoga groaned, raising his tired hand to try and touch her face, thinking that the end was coming soon with Cologne having stopped his one trump card; since his conscious track of time had been taken away from him with his fading in and fading out consciousness.

"Ran-Ranma... I h-heard what she said..." Ryoga forced out, panting as his voice continued to come out as strained.

Ranma's eyes widened as she looked to the side, "Never mind dat... you gotta' rest-"

"I-I don't care if I'm only going to live for awhile! I-If I was going in anyway, I'd want my last moments with you, Ranma..." Ryoga's tears flew from his eyes. "You're too important to me and I'd travel to hell... ju-just as long as I get to be with you..."

Ranma blushed and shook her head, fighting his flattering words. Though she knew if she kept fighting him on the subject he would only continue to waste time and force himself to stay awake.

"I love you, Ranma..." Ryoga stated, finally giving in as Ranma had paused long enough for him to completely tire himself out.

Ranma stared at Ryoga the entire time, a timid look on her face. "Damn it, Ryoga... you kinda' make me wish I could be a girl for you, you really know how ta' charm a girl..."

Cologne

The two martial artists traveled through the woods and although Ryoga had displayed a huge amount of potential that didn't excuse the fact that he was a cursed animal and cursed animals had no business in the tribe, temporary members were not beneficial to their tribe. Though if Ranma were to follow the code and marry Shampoo, she could see him being part of the tribe; with an extended life of course.

"That fool better not let that skill control him... all those who fall into despair will only have a future with death."