I felt as if thousands of daggers were stabbing my head. It throbbed painfully and nothing I can do can seem to make it go away. I wanted to just topple over and die when I felt a hand brush over my forehead, ever so gently and the simple touch seemed to send the wicked pain away.

"Go back to sleep, airen, I'll just be here…" said the voice that came with the warm and loving hands and I succumbed to the comfort it gave me… it was funny but I thought it was Shampoo's voice that. I heard…

After a long and dreamless sleep, I finally awoke. I blinked several times and assumed it was nighttime as the darkness never faded, yet I felt warmth in my arms and heard the birds chattering noisily outside.

Maybe I have finally gone completely blind. With a slight feeling of panic, I placed my hands in front of my eyes only to realize that one of them is in a cast while the other is wrapped in bandages. I waved them slightly and saw their fuzzy outline. … no… not completely blind… or at least not yet.

What happened? I can't seem to remember what I have gotten myself into. Maybe I had another accident? Or maybe I have…

"It's a good thing you're awake now son-in-law," surprised, I turned my head to seek out where the voice came from.

"Don't bother wasting your energy," she said, as she held my bandaged hand gently. "I am right here. You took quite a beating you know?"

Cologne? What is she doing here? And …beating?

"You probably don't remember anything that has transpired the past few weeks. In fact, you have been asleep for more than ten days now. The medicines that were given to you may have caused you to forget anything that happened recently…Mu tzu?"

I thought about what she said and I couldn't quite understand it … all I remember was that I wanted to get flowers… red flowers…for…Shampoo… and.

"There was a battle…? I survived?" I asked mostly myself but I got an answer nonetheless.

"You were badly injured. It's a good thing Xian pu found you… you could have died on that ground then and there."

Shampoo rescued …me? Things just aren't making any sense but… Oh Shampoo, I have made yet another imposition… how can I make her love …or even like me now… I…

"Are you all right? Would you like to take some analgesics?" she sounded almost worried about me. My injuries might have really been bad.

"No…I'm all right… where is Shampoo? I must apologize for the trouble I have caused her…" every move I made seemed to cause my limbs to cry out in pain. "I'm sorry for being such a bother."

I didn't expect my knees to be this weak as I nearly collapsed when I finally got out of bed. I tried to search for a pair of spectacles inside my loose robe's sleeves yet I couldn't find one.

"Elder… about my eyes…"

"That's great grandmother to you boy," I was taken aback by her sudden kindness. It was only now that she showed signs that she accepted me as part of their family… yet her next words troubled me even more. "Forgive my bluntness, but you'll find out sooner or later anyway. Blows to your head may have damaged your eyes more. The doctor said that it is possible that you'd completely lose your sight in a month or two."

Being completely blind never really bothered me. Darkness had always been my friend. Yet… now that I am more vulnerable than I used to be…now that I am weaker than ever before… how can I possibly be a good husband to Shampoo now? I will be nothing more than a heavy load to her. Maybe it's about time that I actually forget about pride and this marriage…

"Honored el… I mean… Great grandmother…my marriage with Shampoo is…"

"Whatever that must be discussed about your marriage, you must discuss with your wife first." she deliberately cut me off, as if reading my thoughts. "Are you well enough to walk? I shall leave you here for now. I'll check on you tomorrow."

I nodded slightly and heard her leave the room. I felt a deep ache in my chest with every step I took towards the door. What must I tell Shampoo?

"Go back to sleep, airen, I'll just be here…"

It was odd, yet the words repeated themselves in my head. Shampoo's voice told me over and over again… told me to rest with such caring, such love in her voice. Is it possible that my weakened state had caused me to be utterly delusional?

I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I missed a step in the path outside the house. Instead of hitting the hard ground, I felt a pair of arms around my chest, almost like an embrace … an embrace I can only dream of receiving.

"Mu Tzu? What are you doing up?"

There it was again…the gentle, loving voice…

"Xi…Xian pu!?" she steadied me and reached out to fasten my clothes. It seems like I forgot to button them correctly.

"There, you're still weak and the winds are a bit chilly… you might catch a cold …" her touch was gentle wherever she touched me… and I started to doubt whether I was in the right place or not. If not for the pain I was feeling all over my body, I would have thought that she …that I… that what was happening right now was all merely a dream.

"Xian pu…I don't know what transpired in the past few weeks but I want to apologize for all the troubles I have caused… I know you don't deserve all this and …" she placed a finger in my lips to stop me from blathering. I would have understood the gesture much better if she just opted to whack my head or did something like it to stop me from speaking.

"You're right. I don't deserve this. All of this." I felt it. Her words stabbed my heart. I was well aware of that fact for a long time now but it somehow felt different when I finally heard her say it out loud. Why did I not have the power to make her feel more secure, to give her what she needed…what she wanted. Why was I such a useless, incompetent, blind fool that I cannot even give her happiness and…

"Neither do you. You deserve so much more Mu Tzu…"

You deserve much more…? It has been a long time since she last called me by my given name. Wait. What did she say? I almost cannot see it, but I somehow felt it in the cold air that enveloped us… her melancholic eyes were cast down, like she was feeling regret or even…guilt?

She gently took my hands and placed it around her shoulders. I couldn't do anything but comply as I felt too weak … and confused to act otherwise. What was happening? It feels like I missed the biggest turnabout in my life yet. She placed one of her arms at my back as the other was placed on my chest firmly. I guessed she too felt the insane beating of my speeding heart.

I was not sure where she was taking me but after a while she motioned for me to bend down a little and rest in the ground. She took my hand in hers and let me touch something… something that seemed to be leafy…

"A Chinese cabbage?" I asked reluctantly as I turned my head toward her direction. That's right; we're here in my vegetable patch. The ground smelled as if it was just watered and the vegetables seemed to be as fresh as they can be.

"You see… I only found out some time ago that you started to plant vegetables here in our garden. You were unconscious for a while so I decided to take care of your plants …I saw how hard you took care of them and I couldn't let your efforts be wasted. I hope you don't mind." She talked softly and the sad tone was still in her voice.

"No, of course I don't. After all, this used to be your father's garden."

"But it's yours now."

I felt as though she was giving me something more … I can't quite put a finger to it but…

"You see, this garden was full of weeds and was totally unfertile after being so neglected for a while. I suppose… this land was also stubborn in a way as it wanted so much more than what it already has." She gently placed a hand on my cheek and turned my head towards hers. I can see her eyes… and they were brimming with tears.

"Mu Tzu, you took care of this land. Saw its potential when no one else bothered to stick to it. And look at it now, it's thriving well. Even though it pained you…even though it almost took your life."

"Xian pu I… don't understand."

"You haven't forgotten all of it, have you? All that happened the past week?" she searched my eyes for an answer as I probed my mind, my memory for one yet it was blank…

Go back to sleep, airen, I'll just be here…

"I wished that you have forgotten everything before that accident instead of what came after but… Mu Tzu.. I … I want to thank you for taking care of me…and now I regret not doing the same thing after all these years…"

Shampoo…is it possible that she finally…finally learned to love me? Am I more than just a nuisance to her now?

"Mu Tzu..wo ai ni..." her face slowly inched closer to mine and my lips are just a few seconds away from her touch …the kiss I have always dreamed of… the words I have often wished for…I…

"No Xian pu," I turned my head away and closed my eyes tightly, "no, you don't. You're just feeling sorry. Please don't. You have never sinned against me…"

"But Mu tzu!"

"Xian pu, I'll be completely blind in a few months, and I am weaker than a child in my current state. I cannot possibly be a fit husband… a fit lover for you. I'm sorry for even thinking that I deserved you…" I may be losing my sight completely but not my resolve. I must not…cannot let her do this…

"No, you will not go completely blind. I will not permit it. Let's find a cure, together. Anything Mu Tzu. Just don't leave me. I've completely fallen in love with you now, more than ever. I cannot let you go ever again." She then gently wiped my tears away. "It is I who doesn't deserve you. You've loved me for so long and I have not treated you the way I should…if only my love would be enough to compensate for all that I have done…"

"But it is my love…it is enough." I placed my hand in front of her hand and our lips finally met… sealing our promise, our new vow to each other…

"I love you Xian pu"

"I love you Mu Tzu…I love you so…"

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I blinked as I saw the raindrops fall against the windows. I wondered when it started raining. It didn't matter. My husband and I are safe here inside this ferry. Surely no unintended transformations will happen in a while.

I looked down and couldn't help but smile as I saw his sleeping face resting in my lap. We have been traveling for days and surely he must be extremely tired by now. The ride to Japan would probably take several hours and I hope that would be enough to get some of his energy back. I fondly brushed his hair back and loosened his clothes slightly to make him feel more comfortable. His wounds weren't completely healed yet but he has shown great improvement in the past few weeks.

And now we were in a race against time to save his eyesight. Although it didn't matter much to me if he could see or not, I felt that he deserved to have clear sight. After all, it's the least he deserved for all those years he spent …he spent running after me and getting some sense into this thick head of mine. It was odd how I have always been the blind idiot and not him.

I feel more alive now than I ever did before. Maybe it was because it was refreshing to finally love someone who loves you back. I have never felt this happiness wash over me before… I mean, merely gazing at this man's sleeping face resting now in my lap gave me inexplicable joy that it almost felt silly… I couldn't quite comprehend it, but I'm glad that I found this happiness with him. He may be the clumsiest, most annoying, and most irritating Amazon man on earth but I love him. Yes. I love him. I want to say that again, I love Mousse.

"Hmm... Shampoo…" he groaned, and I bent down to kiss the frown away from his forehead. He rewarded me with a slight smile and it seemed like he was fine again.

We weren't always like this. I wonder how the people in Nerima would react once they see us again. Sure, we still bicker and I still call him a stupid duck boy (but it's more of a term of endearment now) but… I laughed slightly at the thought. It wouldn't matter. They're all probably as "jelly-like" as I am now.

"Shampoo…?" I was surprised to see Mousse's half open eyelids looking up at me. He looked like he was still asleep. "Shampoo, if I lose against Ranma in a rematch…you'd still love me right?"

What a silly question. Something only a man who is half awake would ask. "Of course!" I giggled slightly, "but you better win, for there's a slight chance that I would change my mind."

"Ha, I thought so…" he grinned. He can be so arrogant sometimes, even in his sleep. Within a minute he was snoring slightly again.

Yes, I sure am very happy now. Mousse is too. For that, I am even happier (if that's even possible).

As I brushed his hair again with a sappy smile in my face, I thought that I may look like a total fool right now. I've always been one. But now, at least, I'm a fool in love

The End.

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Author's notes:

Yahooooo! It's finally done! Yes. Extremely fluffy and waffy (or at least I hope it was waffy and not just insanely mushy…that's a lot of –y words…) Thank you thank you thank you all for those who reviewed and gave their suggestions for this fic. It gave it quite a boost. Thank you so much. I hope I didn't disappoint you guys or anything.

I'd like to know how else I can improve this fic… (But I don't think I can cut down on the mushiness… I'm sad and pathetic that way.) but I would like to know how you guys feel! Thank you again for reading it.

P.S. shameless plug I've been toying with the concept of writing a mystery characterX Mousse fic. Clue. It's non-yaoi.(and it's not girl-type ranma or any character that will turn to a girl either ha!) There. I don't know if I can pull it off, but I think it's a rare pairing. But umm… there… /shameless plug