{These characters are not property of me. I would never attempt to claim them as my own. This story may not be used without my permission, and may not be used to make money in any way, shape or form. Characters and certain situations were created by Rumiko Takahashi, and whoever really owns the Flash Gordon stuff, so don't try any funny stuff!}
She looked at his 'dead' form. He was dressed in a loose pair of black pants and a silk shirt. She gazed at his face and smiled a little.
She leaned down as if to kiss him, then pulled a bowl of ramen from behind her back and waved it under his nose. It was her special, irresistible ramen; Ranma wouldn't be able to resist it, he was only an Earthling.
As the scent of the food wafted into his nose his eyes fluttered open. He looked at Shampoo a little confused. "Where am I?"
"Back from dead."
"How?"
"I make you live again."
He sat up suddenly. "Akane!"
Shampoo's hand was on his chest. "Quiet or guards hear. If guards find, both in big trouble."
Ranma relaxed a bit. He didn't want to be caught again. "How do I escape?"
"Wear this." Shampoo handed him a rather spiffy looking red shirt and some black slippers. "You blend in."
Ranma took the clothes and got out of the large coffin decorated with panties. He looked at Shampoo.
"I no look," she said, knowing what he want wanted. She turned her back and allowed him to dress. Of course, Ranma didn't know about the mirrored ceiling, which Shampoo was looking up at. "Hurry. We go now," she said smiling, her eyes slightly sultry.
"I thought we were goin' to rescue Akane!" The two were cruising along in one of the wedge-like, panty-shaped shuttles, Shampoo at the controls, heading away from Mongo.
"We get help. Prince Mousse help."
"Mousse? You mean that guy with the panties back in the palace?"
Shampoo giggled cutely and Ranma felt his face turn red. "Mousse fool. He do anything for me."
"I think we should go back and get Akane," Ranma said stubbornly. He didn't think messing around with Prince Mousse was such a good idea. He was one of the Emperor's subjects...
"Is no good idea. Akane under heavy guard. She in royal bedroom."
"WHAT?! We're goin' back right now!" Ranma moved to grab the controls.
"No, Ranma! Mousse help us. He hate Emperor too. Akane not be harmed. Need reinforcements. Mousse have many strong warriors."
That seemed to calm Ranma a little. "Well, I suppose. But I still don't like the idea."
"Good. I call Mousse now." A transparent cylinder, open in the front, dropped down around Shampoo's head. It glowed briefly, then again, and then was raised back out of the way.
"What was that?" Ranma asked?
"You no know telepathy?"
"Telepathy? You mean like talkin' with your mind?"
"Yes. I just talk to Mousse."
"Can I talk to Akane with this?"
"No. Is too dangerous."
Ranma looked at Shampoo for a moment, then grabbed the controls and pointed the ship toward what appeared to be a huge block of ice, floating in the multi-colored space.
"Aiyah! What you do? We crash in Fridgia! We die!"
"Show me how to talk to Akane!"
"Pull up or we die!"
"Show me!"
Shampoo looked at the rapidly approaching ice and sighed. "OK. I show you."
Ranma relaxed and released the controls, allowing Shampoo to steer the ship back toward Arboria.
Shampoo flicked a small switch and a cylinder above Ranma's head dropped down.
"Now think of Akane. Think hard!"
"Ranma knit his brow and concentrated on Akane. 'Akane?'
Akane sat up in the big pink bed, her head splitting. "Oh, what was that? I'll kill that little pervert!" She groaned and started massaging her temple. 'Oh, Ranma...'
'Akane?'
Akane looked around startled. 'Ranma, now I'm even hearing your voice.'
'Akane, it's really me!'
'Ranma? But I thought you were dead?' Akane had a finger to each temple and was staring off into space, as if Ranma's ghost were hovering close by.
'I was! But Shampoo brought me back to life!' At that point, Shampoo had pulled out a bowl of steaming fresh ramen for Ranma back in the ship.
"I make specially for you, Ranma." She held the bowl out to him.
"Thanks, Shampoo. I'm starved." He took it a began slurping it down.
'Shampoo? Oh, well where are you now?'
'Headin' for Arboria. Shampoo says Prince Mousse will help us rescue you. man this is good ramen'
'What? What was that?'
'Oh, nothin'. It'll just be good to see you again.'
Shampoo was watching Ranma eat the ramen with obvious glee. "Ranma like?"
Ranma nodded, and slurped up some more noodles.
'Uh oh, Ranma. I'd better go. It sounds like there's someone coming.'
'OK, we'll save ya as soon as we can, Akane. this is the best ramen I ever had'
'I didn't quite catch that last bit.'
'Oh nothing. I'll be there as soon as I can. Bye.' Ranma finished off the bowl, smiling weakly.
Shampoo took the bowl as the cylinder lifted back up, off Ranma's head. "There Arboria now. Don't worry, Mousse help."
Ranma eyed the greenish mass wearily. It looked rather... dubious.
Tofu found himself strapped to a long metal table, held down by garter belts. There were a series of view screens up by the ceiling, currently showing his face.
The man he recognized from the palace, in the black and gold gi, was there, looking at some instrument panels. A young woman with long black hair, tied in a pony tail off to the side, was there with him.
The man turned and looked critically at Tofu. "Why you would ever do such a crazy thing..." He shook his head. "Foolish boy." He turned to look at the young woman. "Don't go above level three. He probably couldn't take that much training."
"I understand, Genma. Nothing above three." The young woman nodded, looking at Tofu sagely.
"Good." Genma looked down at Tofu. "The Emperor has use for you yet." Genma then strode out of the room.
The young woman then gave Tofu a wide smile.
"What... what are you going to do to me?" Tofu asked, afraid his brain was about to be lazed from his skull.
"Don't worry," the young woman said, stifling a laugh. "We're only going to empty your mind."
"Empty my mind?"
"Yes, as if we had emptied your pocket. Don't be concerned, it's been well-tested on the kingdom's peasants." She turned to a bald man sitting at a console. "Level six!"
"But General Kodach..."
"HOHOHOHOHO! Level 6!"
A beam of light came from the large piece of machinery pointed at Tofu's forehead...
"Oh my! I couldn't possibly."
"Sure ya can. Even serving girls are allowed to live it up a little." Akane held the glass out to the girl. "What's your name?"
"Kasumi."
"Well, Kasumi, let me tell ya, it's good stuff."
"But I'm not allowed..."
"Come on. I won't tell. It's just us girls here." Akane smiled at Kasumi. "Have a drink."
Kasumi looked at the little glass full of greenish liquid. "Well, I suppose just a little wouldn't hurt..." She set down the tray and took the glass from Akane's hand.
"Thatta girl." Akane poured her own glass and sipped from it as Kasumi tried her own.