Chapter 4: Mousse Clear Sight "Happiness is as a butterfly which when pursued is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly may alight upon you. " -Nathaniel Hawthorne Mousse stared at the locket in his hands, his mind running over the day's events. It was an odd jumble of half-baked wishes and plots to get back at Saotome, and yet it seemed to culminate into the perfect opportunity to get complete revenge on those who deserved it. Mousse sighed as his mind went into a mental rewind of the past twenty-four hours. After the funeral of the Gosunkugi boy, he'd returned to the restaurant to work his usual shift. Shampoo was as boisterous and as bubbly as ever, though in retrospect he found it horribly annoying -- her normally educated Chinese traded for the flaky, chopped Japanese needed to communicate with her 'airen.' She'd gone to the dojo, and came back in a huff, her latest and 'greatest' plan to 'win' Ranma's love a complete shambles. She'd tried the latest craze in aphrodisiacs and tight clothing, hoping to arouse his interest. It didn't work, as usual. Akane's mother had suddenly appeared, catching Shampoo off guard. The woman politely showed her the door, kept the food away from Ranma and asked that she leave before the police were informed of a trespasser. Completely ironic. Shampoo had come home a wreck. Something inside her withered at being confronted by Akane's mother. Something was said, but Shampoo wouldn't say what. Mousse scoffed. Shampoo was truly debasing herself just to get Ranma's attention. It made him sick. In fact, now that he thought on it, he really didn't find Shampoo attractive anymore. True, Shampoo was an outrageously physically attractive woman, but he no longer found her attractive in a mental sense anymore. The Shampoo he loved was merely a figment of his imagination. Or was it? Sometimes it felt so much more tangible than an ephemeral dream. "Mousse?" a voice called in Chinese. He quickly hid the locket in his robes. "Come in," he replied as he opened a book to read. Cologne hopped into the room. "Mousse, are you feeling well?" "Of course I'm feeling well. I feel fine," he replied. Cologne stared at him intently. "You've been acting oddly today, Mousse. If you have something planned for son-in-law, I-" "Please, Cologne. I am not planning anything for the Saotome boy, nor am I planning on doing anything in the future." Cologne raised an eyebrow. She could neither detect any hint of him lying nor see anything that betrayed his complete sincerity. "I doubt that, Mousse," she replied. Mousse simply sighed, stared at her in a disapproving way and turned back to his book. Cologne swung out to strike him with her cane as usual, but Mousse blocked it, making her frown in disapproval. She chose not to say anything, and instead, left the room, slightly concerned by Mousse's new behavior, but at the same time not surprised. As she looked back over the day, Mousse had acted as he usually did, pledging his love for Shampoo, and Shampoo in returned the favor with a punch that sent him flying out into the cityscape. He returned an hour later, subdued and calm. He simply acknowledged Shampoo with a nod upon entering, cleaned himself up, and then went right to work. Nothing more was said, no more pledges of love, no more flowers, presents, or any sign of his obsessive affection. It was odd, very odd. Mousse stared at the door of the Tendo dojo with a bit of apprehension, but easily fought it down. Ever since the incident in the park, he'd been in much better control of himself, mentally and physically. Being nervous was something he could deal with easily. He knocked on the door. Silence ensued. He knocked again. More silence followed. He was about to knock again when the door opened, a prim lady staring back at him. She looked as though someone had taken all the Tendo sisters, thrown them into a shaker, blended them all together, aged the mix like a fine scotch, and then out had popped this motherly figure standing before him. It made him feel slightly homesick. "May I help you?" she asked. "I'd like to speak with Ranma Saotome," he replied. "Please come in," she said. Mousse followed her into the living room and waited calmly. "Please have a seat," she replied. "I'll bring him in a minute or two." Mousse nodded and sat down, taking a look at the room that he had barreled through many times before, but never really looked at. The feeling of home that it emitted pleasantly surprised him. It wasn't unexpected, but the level of subtlety was amazing. He was still looking at everything when Akane walked in. "What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised. Mousse blinked and adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose before answering. "I just wanted to talk to Ranma," he replied calmly. "Is this some challenge?" she asked. Mousse sighed. He had foreseen this kind of impediment in his plan, but he really had no other choice but to work with what he had, his wits. Unfortunately, the response was so expected, he was at a loss for words to say. The normality of the situation stunned him silent. "No. Not really," he replied finally. Akane stopped short. "What? This isn't some plot to kidnap me and get back at him? I don't believe it," she replied curiously. "No, I don't expect you to believe it. I've tried kidnapping you on occasion, and attempted to kill Ranma on various occasions. I don't expect you to allow me in your home for any reason. On the other hand, all I ask is that I have a chance to speak with Ranma," he replied evenly. It apparently made absolutely no sense to the youngest Tendo. He didn't expect it to. "You here to challenge me again, Mousse?" a familiar voice asked from behind Akane. Mousse pushed the glasses up onto the bridge of his nose again. I must get these adjusted at some point, he mused. "Actually, Ranma, I'm not," Mousse replied as he got up from his seat. He noticed that the two families were slowly assembling to see what was going to transpire. Mousse held out a hand. "I'd like to put things behind us, Ranma," he replied evenly. "I realize I've done a number of foolish things in my past, things that I regret. I think it would be best for me to apologize for any injustice I've done to you in the past. Granted, I wish you would be so inclined to do that same-" "This ain't some trick, is it?" Ranma interrupted as he folded his arms. Mousse sighed again. "This is no trick, I tell you. I am completely serious." "Shampoo put you up to this?" "I don't think Shampoo has the required intelligence at this point to make any kind of manipulative scheme at the level of, say Cologne. Shampoo is an intelligent girl, in her own right I suppose. However, her quest to marry you has given her cause to abandon all logic in favor of emotion." Ranma stared at Mousse for a moment. "Hunh?" he finally managed. "No, Shampoo didn't put me up to this," Mousse replied with a chuckle. "Oh," Ranma replied, suddenly confused. There was a moment of silence. "Would you like some tea?" Kasumi asked hopefully. Mousse smiled and nodded. "You're too kind," Mousse replied. Nabiki scoffed and went back upstairs with an air of disappointment, stuffing a small black book into her pocket as she went. "So let me get this straight," Ranma said in a surprised voice. "You want to help me get Shampoo off my back?" "I would not have used that particular image, but yes," Mousse replied calmly. "And this ain't no trick?" Ranma asked for the hundredth time. "No," Mousse replied. "So what are you thinking of?" Ranma asked. "I'm thinking of a lot of things, mostly about what to do now that I have absolute clarity of mind." "No, I meant about Shampoo!" Mousse smiled. "Well, I believe that the first and foremost obstacle is her excessive infatuation with you." "I already knew that!" "Hear me out Saotome. This isn't just any ordinary case of post-pubescent infatuation with a canonized figure," Mousse said evenly. "Hunh?" Ranma intoned. Mousse thought Ranma looked near pain as he processed the previous statement. "Shampoo is willing to do everything to marry you. If it were reduced down to simply murdering Akane, she'd try to find a way to do it and not have you find out. Half of Cologne's secret techniques involve poisoning by subtle means. You wouldn't want to see it happen," Mousse continued. "So what am I supposed to do about it?" "Well, there are few alternatives," Mousse replied evenly. "What if you beat me?" "Being beaten by someone is not an alternative. Shampoo has no obligation to marry anyone that beats you." "What if someone else beat her?" "Then she'd still have to marry you. You were the first to beat her in combat." Akane glared at Ranma. "That was the smartest thing you could have done," she said sarcastically. Ranma glared back at her. "Sexless tomboy," his mouth fired back in response. Akane's fist went flying out at Ranma face, and he braced for impact. When he didn't feel anything, he slowly opened one eye. Akane was staring at Mousse as he gripped her wrist tightly. "Let go of my wrist!" she growled. "I would appreciate it if you didn't interrupt, despite his taunting," Mousse said evenly. Akane sat back to fume in frustration. "Wow!" Ranma exclaimed. "You've never done that before!" "No I haven't. I never expected it before, but now that I'm a lot smarter than I used to be, I've learned to anticipate things after analyzing patterns." "So you think you could beat me?" Ranma smirked. "No, I'm not as strong as you, Ranma. I could keep myself from being hurt easily enough, but I doubt I could hurt you. Besides, what would I gain my flaunting my testosterone level?" "Hunh?" "I would not gain anything by acting macho," Mousse said. "How did you get so smart, anyhow?" Ranma asked bluntly. "Ranma!" Akane's mother gasped. Ranma winced visibly. Mousse allowed a small smile to form on his lips. "It is a matter that doesn't concern you Ranma. To put it simply, my wishes came true." Ranma raised an eyebrow. Akane looked surprised for a moment, but then smiled knowingly. "Okay," Ranma drawled. Mousse shook his head. "When Shampoo causes problems again, come find me." "Will you be at the Nekohanten?" Akane asked. "No, of course not. That place is but a house of pain and dark memories for me." "So where are you going to be?" "I will simply use my curse to my advantage." "Hunh?" Ranma said again. "It will be easier to roost as a duck than try to find a place to sleep as a human. Of course, I might get lucky and have a girl decide to invite me to sleep with her," he added with a knowing smile. Ranma grimaced and fumed. "What's he talking about?" Akane asked. "And speaking of animals, where's P-chan?" Mousse looked out across the lake as he paddled about. His mind was working furiously despite his attempts to clear it. Every waking moment his mind seemed to be turning over ideas and thoughts, analyzing them at a maddening pace. "Enjoying your new gift?" a female voice asked close by. Mousse turned to look at an innocent face, framed in long black curls. A long silence passed between them as Mousse stared in shock. A familiar feeling filled his heart. He blinked and quacked a response. The young lady reached out from her boat and brought Mousse out of the water. She set him on the seat opposite her. "Are you enjoying your new gift?" she asked, snapping him out of his reverie. "Quack." "I know because I granted your wish." "Quack quack quik quack." "I don't necessarily have to be a duck. I can be a great many things, Mousse." "Quack?" "No, I'm not cursed by the waters from Jusenkyo." "Quack?" "Yes, I am a being of immense power and ability that lives in a reality so far from your own." "Quack?" "I came to you as a duck because you were a duck at the time." "Quack?" "Yes, I did have dinner already, though I thank you for the invitation." "Quack." "Do you know why I'm here, Mousse?" "Quack quack quack quack quack quack quack quik quack quik quik quack." The woman laughed. "Quack?" "I've forgotten how adorable you can be when you're confused, Mousse." The mandarin duck blushed as well as a duck could blush. "Mousse, I'm here because things have gone far enough for you." "Quack?" "No, your wish isn't being revoked. You made a legitimate wish and while the repercussions are far beyond what I expected, it is something I can not change." "Quack?" "No, I'm fine thank you. Though I appreciate the thought." "Quack?" "Well, if you insist, but later. I doubt the manager of any kissaten would appreciate me bringing a mandarin duck in for coffee. Now please hear me out Mousse, I've had enough of your flattery and offers," the lady admonished gently with a smile. Mousse blushed again. "Now, Mousse, as I said before, things have gone about as far as they should. I overlooked a great many things in granting you your wish." "Quack?" "I may be a being of immense power and wisdom, but I have my shortcomings, just like you. I didn't think in granting your wish that you would become as advanced as you've become." "Quack." "Yes, I know, Mousse. It was just a consequence of your wish." "Quack." "Yes, it was a horribly simple wish. A very simple wish indeed, but it meant so much more than what you said when you had the locket. "Mousse, you can't stay here anymore. You have to leave this place." "Quack?" "Mousse, you've become so smart now that in due time you will elucidate answers to questions that have plagued humans since they became sentient." "Quack?" "Yes, Mousse," the woman replied with a soft laugh, "that does include the recipe for the perfect ramen noodle." Mousse winked as well as a mandarin duck could wink. "Mousse, you've become smart enough to know about everything. I never thought your wish would be so grand but it was, and now you have to leave." "Quack?" "Excuse me?" "Quack." "Mousse, that's very sweet of you but you hardly-" "Quack." "But Mousse, I hardly think that-" "Quack." "Mousse, do you know who I am?" "Quack." The woman blushed. "Yes, I am. I suppose I should have guessed that you would know who I am by now, but-" "Quack." The woman looked at Mousse intently for a moment. "So be it. You might say you've gotten a second wish granted Mousse-chan," she replied. "Quack." "Yes, you're allowed to tie up loose ends before you go." "Quack." "Return here within twenty four hours." "Quack." Mousse walked back towards to Tendo dojo purposefully. He had the perfect revenge planned for Cologne and Shampoo. It was so simple, yet powerful, much like the wish he'd made. Execution of it would require only the genius he possessed. That or extreme amounts of luck. On the other hand, he liked to think that luck was now one of his many skills. He knocked on the door. "Hello?" a woman asked. Mousse recognized her as the Tendo matriarch. "I have information that you might find useful." "Yes?" she asked curiously. "Is Ranma's mother here as well?" "Why yes she is," the woman replied. "I'd like to speak with the both of you." "That's an interesting idea Mousse, but I doubt that either of us are able to do it," Nodoka said quietly. Mousse nodded. "I understand." "On the other hand, from what I've been told, this has happened before," the mother of the Tendo daughters replied. "I'm just glad nothing's been given to my dear Kasumi. It would be something out of a horror story!" Mousse smiled. "It would be unfortunate to see the passion spice used on Kasumi," Nodoka agreed. "If that is all, then I'll be going," Mousse replied. "Mousse, why are you doing this?" "Because it's the best way to keep Ranma from being forced into marrying Shampoo. The antidote for every mind-altering spice known to the Amazons is in that book, as well as the actual use of the original spices themselves. If used judiciously, and kept from being stolen by Cologne and Shampoo, you would be able to thwart nearly every plan known to Shampoo. Cologne will be tougher, but I've taken care of that. The old ghoul will forget all about Ranma tomorrow, amongst other things." The two women nodded as Mousse turned and left. Nodoka stared at her long-time friend and sighed. "We're turning into them, aren't we?" The Tendo matriarch smiled as she leafed through the book and glanced at the case of spices Mousse liberated from the Cat Cafe. "No we aren't, Nodoka," she replied with a mischievous gleam in her eye. "We aren't going to screw up." Mousse took a long look over the lake as the moon rose into the sky. He watched the surface of the lake glitter as the moonlight played across it. The Chinese boy instinctively reached out to grasp the hand by his side and hold it in a warm embrace. "I never thought I'd get so much out of making a simple wish." "Love clouds judgement in even the greatest minds, Mousse," the woman replied softly. "It makes turns peasants into kings and turns war into peace." "Where are we going?" he asked. "Here and there. Many places all at once. Are you ready?" "Of course I am." The woman smiled as the moonlight framed her face in a soft, pale light. "You seem a little nervous." "I suppose this is what they call an out of body experience," he said with a chuckle. The woman laughed softly. "Yes," she replied, "you could say that." "I love you, you know," Mousse said quietly. "Everyone loves their guardian angel - at least, everyone should." "So where have you been all these years? Where were you when I needed you most?" Mousse asked quietly. "I've always been with you, here in your heart," she replied as she gently touched Mousse's chest. "I've always been there for you when you needed me most. When your heart needed me the most." Mousse looked from the hand she rested on his chest to her face. The woman looked back at Mousse and smiled. The long black waves of her hair rustled gently in the slight breeze. Her slender body shivered slightly in the air, and Mousse wrapped an arm around her, enveloping her in a warm embrace. He could smell the lavender in her hair. She pulled back slightly to gaze into his eyes. The cursed boy lost himself as he gazed deeply into her eyes as the shimmered in the soft light. "Are you surprised, Mousse?" she asked. "A little bit," he replied honestly. "I think you were a little more than surprised," she admonished gently. She giggled quietly. It sounded like soft wind-chimes. "You look like her," Mousse replied quietly. "Everything about you looks like her." "She looked like me," the woman corrected with a wry grin. "You always knew who the woman you loved was deep in your heart. You just confused two people that looked the same." "Only, I chose the wrong one," Mousse said sadly. "I thought she loved me." "She never loved you," the woman replied. "Yes. Why do you?" "Because I'm your guardian angel, Mousse," she replied as she caressed his cheek. "You could say it's my job." "Do you like your job?" he asked roguishly. "Well, I have to admit it has its advantages," she replied impishly. "How about now?" "Well, of course. We get to work together now." "How will you be my guardian angel if I'm one myself?" The lady smiled and hushed him. "You can figure that one out for yourself," she replied. "Do I grant wishes?" "Only if the time comes. Everyone gets a wish sometime in his or her life. Yesterday was your time." Mousse looked at the locket in his hand. "What about the locket?" "The locket's power is beyond the wish, Mousse. Deep in your heart, you know what that power is," she replied softly. "Will Ranma get a wish?" "I can't tell you that, but I'm sure you can figure that one out," she said with a playful laugh. "Are we off, then?" he asked. "Yes, but you won't need these," the woman replied as she took Mousse's glasses off. "After all, you can see now, Mousse-chan. You can see things as they were meant to be." "So what do I do, besides my Heart's desires?" "Would you be surprised if I said, helping a particular aquaphobic transsexual?" Mousse chuckled. "No, not really. Nothing surprises me anymore. Do I get to look at it as getting back at Shampoo?" "Mousse!" the woman admonished with a laugh. Mousse smiled and silenced her with a kiss. Joggers at the park were surprised to find the body of a man on the ground, a set of glasses, twisted and broken, by his side. In his cold hand, a small locket was held tightly. They all gave it a wide berth as the morning went on. The police were quickly alerted and removed it early that afternoon. The locket was sent to the person that identified the body. She became a little morose at the sight of the unmoving form, but it was of little consequence compared to her great-grandmother's sudden loss of memory.