Cologne (Love Note)

**Cologne** (コロン *Koron*) is the leader of the Chinese Amazons and the great-grandmother of Shampoo.

## Plot

After Shampoo was effected by Cupid Cologne remembered seeing a reference to this kind of phenomena before, but couldn’t find it in her ancient tomes. The fact that Cupid might try and affect her granddaughter again scared Cologne. She told Shampoo that they were closing up the restaurant for a while so that she could to go back to China to investigate some things. Before she left she warned Shampoo not to trust any sudden feeling she may have.

While in one of the Amazon village’s oldest buildings, looking over a large and tome that was even more ancient that the structure, Cologne was not pleased with what she was learning. The village record keeper an elder Amazon, even older than Cologne informed her of the 3000 legend about a man that wielded power similar to cupids.

However since this was before they kept such records the details of the event were scarce. When Cologne expressed her skepticism the record keeper pointed to what was happening as proof enough. While there seemed to be a cure the keeper stated that it may well be worse than the disease.

Sadly Cologne was only able to learn a few things about Cupid, only a little of it useful. When she returned Tofu asked if she would share what she learned, only to be told that she couldn’t exclude him as a suspect. He gave his word that he wasn’t and given what was happening with Kasumi the likelihood that he was cupid was low. Shampoo asked about Kasumi but was ignored.

Tofu went to prepare tea, as Cologne went into what she knew. About this time Nabiki had learned from Akane about Shampoo staying there so wrote there names do the fact Kasumi was no longer visiting him would be explained. Cologne seeing Tofu starting to become effected splashed Shampoo before she could as well.

Tofu and Cologne had been met every other day since the incident, and although there was basically nothing new to report, they decided it best to convene anyway, just in case Cupid tried to pull one of her memory erasing stunts on one or the other. Since they couldn’t be certain that Shampoo had been a target, and she couldn’t just stay in her cursed form forever it was decided that it would be best for her to fake affection for Tofu and hope Cupid thought he had succeeded. Cologne gave Tofu a potion to keep his love induced mania in check.

Mousse once again went back to the Nekohanten to beg to be let back. Luckily Shampoo was out on delivery for while she no longer believed he was Cupid she was still angry. Cologne asked him about his progress on finding Cupid but he still believed Ranma was involved somehow. Cologne agreed but not in the way Mousse thought. They were interrupted by the arrival of Maho who was there for the waitress position. On mention of the word, Mousse immediately tensed. However, whatever argument he was about to make was quickly silenced with a look from the elder. As if defeated, Mousse’s shoulders quickly sagged, and muttering something Maho could not quite catch, he left the restaurant.

Maho asked if he would be okay, but Cologne dismissed him and went ahead with the interview. She shocked Maho by telling her that she was the first applicant. Seeing that Maho had martial arts training she felt that she would do. Cutting her off before she could ask how she knew she started talking about the pay leaving Maho with a bad feeling as she Cologne began detailing the job further.

When Shampoo returned to the Nekohanten and told her that she had seen L. Cologne felt that there was little to worry about feeling that since they knew Shampoo wasn’t a Cupid she would quickly be excluded as a suspect. When she asked her about Ranma she admitted she hadn’t done it yet.

During break Cologne revealing that she new that Maho was working for L, by casually bringing up that the Amazons had, had an encounter with Cupid before. Seeing Maho’s shoulders sag when she told that she was suspected since she applied, Cologne told her that she was naturally suspicious of everyone. Putting it out of her mind Naomi asked about Cupid and why Shampoo was pretending to be in love with Tofu.

She answered the second question first about how Cupid attempted to affect Shampoo. Hearing how far back it was Naomi needed more detail, to which Cologne only agreed to give if she could talk to L first. Maho agreed to pass her request along and with that Cologne told her to get back to work much to her shock and frustration.

Since they all expressed a desire to aid in his investigation L invited Kuno, Kodachi, Ranma, Ryoga, Akane, Soun, Genma, Nabiki, Kasumi, Ukyo, Shampoo, Mousse, Cologne, and Tofu to a high rise building. He met with Cologne first figuring it was best to meet with her before the others.

Those first meeting the man paused in some wonderment, particularly noting his odd sitting posture. However, this lasted only a moment before they all began to take seats. Though he still had doubts Ranma confirmed to Nabiki the only one aware that Trista was there that he was the man he met. L introduced himself as Ryuzaki and Kuno was the first to express gis doubt that L was who he claimed he was. L confirmed who he was, but also eased there doubts stated that even if he wasn’t he was at least speaking on behalf of L.

L agreed to allow them to help him, but he didn’t sugar coat the fact that fact that they were all still suspects, though he didn’t reveal his exact suspects. Nabiki kept her face neutral at this revelation. With that he laid down what he had deduced so far noting. L eyed each member of the group in turn, pausing particularly on Kasumi who was all smiles and seemed absolutely riveted on the conversation.

The first was that there were Two Cupids. Many repeated in surprise. Nabiki in particular could not help but frown at this revelation. Much to Nabiki’s annoyance he explained how Kasumi clued him in on how Cupid needs a name and face to affect you. As he was talking the second Cupid revealed themselves on Cupid’s arrow. The others wanted to rush to put a stop to it, but L protested that it was to dangerous to intervene the others rushed. The second Cupid introduced themselves as the real Cupid telling L that they would offer him a gift of their benevolence.

When the people gathered at the station started trying to batter there way in L called to have all broadcasts cut realizing that Cupid was still affecting them. With nothing else to to Ranma, Ryoga, Mousse, Akane, Shampoo Ukyo, Kodachi and Tatewaki went to the building to do what they could. Even Soun elbowed Genma and the pair joined in as well. Before they left L told them to everything that Cupid provided. Kasumi called out to them to be careful while beside her, Nabiki simply crossed her arms, a frown firmly locked on her face.

When L received a letter from Cupid he once more gathered with the various residents of Nerima to tell them what had happened. He also informed them of his theory that the Cupid they knew from before was in fact two people. There were various degrees of surprise at hearing this. Later he played them an audio of not only him denying Cupid’s request, but a recording of the second Cupid denying the new ones legitimacy. After hearing it several were shifting into various disquieted positions and expressions. He asked them to stay at the building. They had come and gone numerous times and might be in danger as they could have been seen. The various Nerima residents looked at each other in consideration before Cologne took the initiative on behalf of herself, Shampoo and Mousse. This got the others to agree as well. He had Watari prepare them rooms as they waited for the official broadcast.

As expected it didn’t long for the worshipers of the third Cupid to find L’s building, with the more bold individuals shoving or otherwise attacking the other shutters in futility. Cologne was off by herself when she was interrupted by Ranma asking her what would happen to Shampoo if he didn’t marry her. She wasn’t that surprised when Ranma told her that L had put the thought in his head. She initially tried to be vague by stating that the council had full discretion on punishments for failure to comply with the law. When Ranma wouldn’t budge she told him that the worst punishment Shampoo would receive is death.

Ranma began freaking out and demanded to know why he wasn’t told this. He was surprised when Cologne told him that Shampoo didn’t want him to know as she wanted his love not his sympathy. Having always thought there marriage was a simple matter of tribal obligation Ranma didn’t know how to take that. Colgne informed Ranma that she had plans. After getting him to promise not to repeat it to anyone, especially Shampoo. Cologne explained as Shampoo’s trainer, she had the authority to take the responsibility for any transgression Shampoo may have performed. This means she would be in the clear.

Ranma was quick to point out that it would mean that Cologne would be in trouble, but she believed that her rank, history, and standing would be sufficient enough to shield her from sufficient punishment. Ranma took a moment to think before asking if there was anyway to get out of this other than marrying Shampoo. While there were ways other than his death they were nearly impossible to accomplish. Even faking his death wouldn’t be an option as the council would require proof.

Cologne told Ranma about her initial plan to get Ranma together which involved her playing the villain in order for Shampoo to prove her true feeling. However him using Shampoo to go into the nekoken instead of just fighting with her threw the proverbial wrench into the works. At that point she knew it could not succeed and had to alter her approach. After calling her out on her manipulative ways Ranma told her that it wasn’t that easy even outside of honor there were two many peoples emotions riding on him. if he can’t choose anyone without someone else getting hurt. Cologne old Ranma that hurt is inevitable. Dragging it out will only deepen the wound. While she still wanted him to choose Shampoo, the outcome would be the same no matter his decision.

Ranma told Cologne to promise him if she does get some way of getting Shampoo clear. Cologne told him that she will take it without hesitation, but should he be required she’d tell him. With that Ranma returned to the others. While she was left to wonder what L was up to knowing that he was too calculating to have brought this up on a whim.’ Cologne looked to the side in thought but no easy answers came. Any thought on that issue got discarded as she sensed Tofu’s presence.

Seeing that he had been listening in she had him promise not to convey her options to Shampoo. He asked her if death was a possible when Shampoo first went home. It took Cologne a moment to realize he meant when she didn’t kill Ranma-chan and told him that it was and in fact Shampoo was expecting it. Clenching his teeth he asked if Shampoo could be saved if someone defeated Ranma and didn’t hesitate to affirm his believe that he could do it when Cologne asked. She told him no as that option was too easily exploited. Tofu brought up Mousse’s attempts only for Cologne to tell him that Mousse was an idiot who is willfully ignorant of the inner workings their laws.

Tofu asked if it was possible for her to just run away, but that was shot down as well as not only would it be admitting failure, but the amazons have was of tracking her down. She did mention that there might be some loopholes the first being to dispute the petition to change the law, the second would be to dispute the defeat. However both were just as unlikely to happen especially after the incident with the Reversal Jewel. Seeing that the trey he held had two serving she realized he was helping to keep Shampoo and Akane apart and decided to join him. she told Tofu to go and fetch a third serving. While he thought to himself that he wasn’t going to allow her to make him a replacement for Mousse but obediently returned the way he came to fetch another serving.

On her way the building shock causing her to rush to the monitor room, it turns someone had bombed their way in. Watari informed the group that someone had reached the network room and he believed they were trying to hack the system. As the worshipers began to break into the building everyone decided to go and stop them. L asked Ranma if he could stop those who were trying to hack into the system.

Ranma and company had barely made it into the main stairwell before the next explosion hit, breaching the last of the obstacles between them and the protesters. As expected, before even the dust had cleared, people were pouring in through the breach. Cologne instructed the group to keep them from getting any further up as she dove into the fray, effortlessly disabling three men with but a touch. Shampoo and Mousse followed in just after. Ranma and the others were just finished dealing with those that slipped by when another explosion, further away, could be heard. Genma, Soun, Akane and Ryoga left to deal with that.

The protesters began throwing Molotov cocktails and while they were quickly ablr to put out the fires they still activated the sprinklers. Kodachi who had been having fun dealing with the chaos of a good riot let out an uncharacteristic squeak of shock at finally witnessing Ranma, Mousse, and Shampoo’s transformation. As Ranma looked back at the wide eyed Kodachi, she wondered if the the sprinklers were linked. Her questions were answered when she heard Akane yell Ryoga’s name in shear outrage. Ignoring that for now Ranma left Cologne to hold things here while she ran to the network room.

Kodachi was still in shock, making unintelligible sounds for several more seconds before finally asking Cologne and Cologne if they say it two which they just affirmed calmly. Kodachi’s anger and embarrassment was ignored as another wave of protesters approached. She did tell them they would deal with it later. Hours later, police were escorting various protesters and troublemakers from the building. Ukyo had managed to retrieve Ranma who they found paralyzed on the floor, but could do nothing for her till the trouble died down. Now finally free to act, Cologne was to fix Ranma. She explained to everyone that his ki had been poisoned. L didn’t believe that it was a coincidence that the person who broke in knew such an obscure technique and asked Ranma if he at get a look at either of them, but they wore mask.

Ultimately they were at a stalemate. The hack failed but the hacker escaped. Since there was no indication that any of them were identified it should be safe for them to go home.