Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2, but that's been established many times already.

Author's Notes: -feels empty and bored-

--

The days had begun to blur for the dark haired man. While he felt welcomed at the Tendo house, he could not shake the emptiness that seemed to be following him like the persistant rain that had come down upon Nerima. While he smiled when they asked him to do work, he stayed up most of the nights just contemplating what he was even doing here. Mousse would listen to Ranma snore loudly as he wondered on whether he should be here or just go back home to China and try to restart his life there.

No, the tribe probably wouldn't even take him back after what had happened. They would either kill him right there or run him off into the wilderness. Mousse sighed as he laid back upon his small bed. He couldn't go back to China, but what did Japan have to offer him now that Shampoo was not the focus of his life anymore? He couldn't even imagine her without cringing. Many truths had finally begun to surface since he had been kicked out. He realized how much of his life he wasted chasing after someone who was never going to love him, no matter how strong he became. How badly she had treated him. Yet...he saw a few kind moments of hers where she actually did care. A few moments where she would take his wounded body back and treat him, then return to herself when he was healed and continue to mock and disregard the love he offered her.

Perhaps...he should persue someone else? Mousse shook his head at the thought. No. He would just be displacing his longing for purpose into persual of another person. He sat up, feeling rattled and upset. This was annoying. He also had a persistant headache that had lasted for a few days. He attributed it to stress, but wondered if he should see someone for it.

--

The clinic had been a bit more empty the past couple weeks or so, travelers not wishing to go out in the rain to get checked up on. So it suprised Dr. Tofu to hear the doors of his office open, particulary at such a late hour of the night. He poked his head out and saw a familiar face.

"Why hello there." He smiled at Mousse, who had borrowed an umbrella from the Tendos. "What brings you around here so late?"

Mousse took off his glasses to clean off the rain and Dr. Tofu noticed the look of apathy in the young man's eyes.

"Headache. I've had it for a good four days." He replied, putting them back on. Oddly enough, since being kicked out, he remembered his glasses much more often.

"Well, let's check you out and see what we can do for you." He went to wash his hands and Mousse looked at how empty the clinic was. It looked strange and quite somber in the night.

He sat on the stool in the back as Dr. Tofu smiled at him, obviously trying to get one out of him in response. Mousse simply pulled his hair back and slid down the top of his robe to reveal his broad shoulders to the doctor.

"So four days and it still hasn't gone away? Anything you think that could be causing it? Stress, overworking or something like that?" He felt along the young man's neck and shoulders, noting how much tense muscle lay under his skin.

"Not really..." He sighed, setting his glasses on the table beside him.

"Haven't been chasing after your girl too much, huh?" Dr. Tofu jumped a bit when he felt how much Mousse's muscles tensed from mentioning her. The look on his face suggested he best not do it again. Instead, he let the silence hang in the air for a bit before clearning his throat.

"Well, I can work out a few kinks in your neck and back you have to relieve a bit of the pressure, but other than that, might I suggest a bit of time to yourself?"

Mousse's ears perked up as he groaned softly, feeling Dr. Tofu's hands work on the constricted muscles along his neck.

"For many patients, a great deal of stress and/or depression is caused because of the people around them and their stress projected onto you. Maybe take a little time just to be by yourself, figure out what you really want in life."

"I don't know what the fuck I want anymore..." Mousse sighed, then groaned as he heard a crack in his neck.

"Then you should go find out." Dr. Tofu smiled as he handed him a pamphelt for a place called Mizu Palace. "It's a fabulous hot springs. Quite secluded."

"I'd like to, but I don't think I have the money..."

"Tell them you're there on my orders." He winked and stood Mousse back up. Mousse's headache had vanished and he felt quite fatigued now.

"Thank you Dr. Tofu. I will consider it."

Mousse didn't even make it out the door before he fell asleep on the floor of Dr. Tofu's clinic. He sighed and dragged the young man to a couch.

'What a troubled soul.' Dr. Tofu sighed as he prepared a bit of tea for the night.