‘RT’
is for the ‘Real Thing’ or just ‘Red Thread’?
Chapter
3- Arigatou…
I
blinked my eyes to the rising sun with only two hours of sleep to show
for it.
But,
I wouldn’t let that stop me.I jumped
up from bed with a smile and yet another determined face that wouldn’t
give up.
“Today’s
the day that Shampoo will fall in love with me!” I shouted inside of my
mind.
I
opened my drawers to see two pieces of fabric next to one another.I
took out the red thread into my fingers.“I’m
going to do it.”
As
she walked before me with her great-grandmother next to her, I couldn’t
help but think of the time when we were ten.Just
like this, her grandmother and her were walking ahead of me while I was
right behind them.We were supposed
to get something from the next village.
And
walking behind her, I kept on saying, “Oh thank God!I
think she cares!I mean she did-“
”Mousse,
could you please pick this up for me?” she asked while pointing at a large
object in front of her.I forgot
what it was, but it was sure heavy.
I
couldn’t think of anything but oblige.I
mean, this was Shampoo asking me to do this.But
knowing it was for her…I didn’t mind at all and it didn’t seem so heavy…
And
I never minded what she would ask me, whether it was mean or nice.I
didn’t know the difference...
...until
now.But even now, I still couldn’t
tell the difference between the real situation and my care…
Maybe
I’m as blind with love as I am with my set of glasses...
“Okay,
Shampoo,” her great-grandmother said as we reached the Nekohanten.“Today
is errands day.Here is the list
of all the places you have to go to.”
She
took the list into her hands.“Wow,
so much today.”
“We’ve
finally come to needing everything for the restaurant,” her great-grandmother
laughed.
“Shall
I be accompanying her?” I asked.
“Yes.”
We
walked down into town.
“Why
you come, Mousse?I can do by myself.”
She said as we entered the first shop.
“I
always want to be of service to you, my love!” I answered back.
“Hmph.”She
handed me part of the list without looking back.“Here.”
Perfect.
Tie
around the pinky...quickly...and set.
You
go master of hidden weapons!
She
stopped to turn around.“Why don’t
we do this together, Mousse?”
I
nodded happily.“Anything you say,
Shampoo.”
For
the first time in my life, she took my hand into hers and squeezed it warmly
with a smile.I was going to melt
right at the spot, but I kept my cool as we walked through all the stores
for our supplies.
I
looked at my watch.
“Half
an hour left,” I whispered to myself.
“What
you say, Mousse?”Shampoo looked
up to me as we stopped at the intersection.
“Nothing,
Shampoo.”
Then,
she grabbed my arm and leaned her head on my shoulder.“Thanks
for coming with me.Shampoo no know
what to do without you.”
Then,
we crossed the street.
I
could have danced, but I was blushing and smiling like an idiot.That
I know.
Oh
to finally hear this from you, Shampoo!It’s
a dream come true!
We
stopped by a park to rest a while.
I
sat on the bench exhausted.“I’m
so tired!”
“I
know.Me too!”But
she snuggled next to me.
And
I laid my head on her own and sighed.“I
didn’t know I’d be this happy.”
She
looked at me.“Why not?”
“I
mean, after how many years, you finally come around.”
“Why
I no realize you were here, Mousse?”
“Stupid
law...” I answered bitterly.
“Then
what we do?You no defeat Ranma.”She
started to cry.
And
something in my heart just couldn’t stand that...
To
see her cry was to much...
…or
this situation.
I
turned to Shampoo and held her shoulders. I smiled the happiest smile I
could ever have on my face.“Thanks,
Shampoo.For the dream.”
“What
you mean, Mousse?I no understand.”She
looked at me once again with the care and innocence she had when she used
to be very compassionate towards me.
Those
eyes...they weren’t for me.
I
stopped for a moment with my heart beating like there was no tomorrow.Am
I crazy?!I really want to do this?!”
But
I want you to love me for me, Shampoo…
With
a heavy heart,
I
took the scissors and quickly snipped the string
while
taking it quickly from our fingers.
This
was fake love...
A
dream that seemed to never be...
Shampoo
sat there looking at me weirdly.“What
we do here, Mousse?”
She
got up and so did I.
“Let’s
go, Mousse.”And somehow, I didn’t
understand why did she seem kind of down.
“Time
to go home.”Shampoo gave me her sack
and I smiled.
She
was back.
Shampoo
was always different from all the people I had met in my life.
And
that’s the way I will always love her.
--
Author’s
note:;_;*
sniff, sniff *Aiya, the waterworks
always go whenever I write about Mousse.;_;