The Shape of Your Face

And he did.

Found Mousse the perfect place to watch a beautiful sunset, went out with him to risk being
struck by lightening while they watched an awesome thunderstorm, took a walking trip with him
one weekend to sit and watch the ocean. Ranma was beginning to gain appreciation for his own
eyesight, to look at things the way Mousse was looking at them. He'd never noticed how beautiful
things were - his friend could even point out the beauty in everyday things, the patterns in the
swirled dirt at the edge of a road, the kaleidoscope effect of stacks of canned vegetables on a
grocer's shelf, the dance raindrops made running down a glass window.

Beautiful.

So was Mousse. He'd stopped dying his hair with the temporary brown color, and after several
washings it was back to its former raven black. He kept it in the braid, but it still made him
look more like his old self. Ranma spent every moment he could with him, and the two drew closer
than they would have ever dreamed before. They would have *laughed*, before, if anyone had
suggested they would become so connected.

Mousse thought Ranma was beautiful, too - he liked the look of maturity that was growing in his
eyes - Ranma had always been such a careless jester. Now his carelessness was translating itself
into ‘carefree' - he wasn't, he had a job doing loading work at a warehouse and it wasn't easy -
but he managed to keep some of his breezy personality. The good parts. His friends were glad.

Akane was doing well in her waitress role - she managed to put up with Shampoo since she'd had
long practice. Cologne had been so eager to keep ‘good help' that she'd raised her pay to
seventy-five dollars a month. Ryoga's earnings had fluctuated, usually between two and three
hundred dollars, sometimes falling below, once even earning $325. It had been four months since
they'd started helping Mousse and the total in the savings account was steadily growing.

Things were looking good.


*


‘Things aren't looking so good...' Akane thought, watching Ranma gaze at Mousse while the other
boy gazed at the water. They were in a little riverside café that boasted a lovely view of
Nerima's only river - and Akane supposed it was nice enough. Since things were going so well
with their earnings, Akane's motherly impulses made her declare they needed to relax once in a
while - so she took them to nice restaurants, ones that had good food at reasonable prices.

And Ranma was right - she made Mousse eat everything she ordered for him. Well, he *was* too
thin!

Now she was beginning to be worried about Ranma. The younger boy was so obviously in love with
Mousse that total strangers could tell. He followed him around with ‘puppy eyes', for gods sake!
Yet Mousse seemed totally oblivious - and if his former single-minded, one-sided love affair was
anything to go by, he was completely heterosexual. She owed it to Ranma to find out, right? To
keep him from getting his heart broken, right? Right!

She didn't mind a bit that her former fiancé seemed to be in love with a boy - she thought it was
cute. It was just time to find out if he had a chance.

"Mousse?" She started, dragging the boy's attention away from the sunlight sparkling on the water.
Something in her voice made Ranma and Ryoga sit up and pay attention, too.

"Yes, Akane-san?" Mousse was always very polite with her.

"What do think about love?" She got a blink and look that clearly said, ‘huh?' in return. Ranma
looked at Ryoga wildly, *his* look saying, ‘please - stop her!' Ryoga just grinned. This ought
to be good.

"I *mean*..." Akane was plowing on, full steam ahead. "Love. As in, being in love? Look!"
She pointed across the river to another café, where a man and woman were feeding each other at
a table. "And then, look over there!" Her finger indicated a couple strolling along the
riverside now - two men, hand in hand. She'd seen them heading that way a moment ago and
decided to use them to get the conversation going where she wanted it to go. Mousse just
looked at them, his delicate face expressionless.

"Well?" Akane prompted.

"I - don't know. I guess they're in love..."

"That's not what I'm asking! I mean, do you think *you* could be that guy? Or one of those
two?" She pointed again to the two different couples, and Mousse seemed to understand what
she was driving at.

"Oh... I think..." He frowned, his eyebrows drawing together. Ranma nearly started shaking.
"I think you should take love wherever you can find it. Can we change the subject, please?"
Mousse was afraid the girl was going to bring up Shampoo - she was the *last* thing he wanted
to talk about. Anyway... love wasn't for him. Not anymore. Who would ever love someone who
was going blind? They'd have to take care of him for the rest of his life - accept a burden
like that... no one would do it. Ever.

Akane accepted the subject change with a mild huff, planning to try again next time. Maybe
Mousse just needed a little time to think. She and Ryoga missed the sad, hopeless look that
flickered through those grey eyes, but Ranma didn't. He knew Mousse was over Shampoo - so what
was wrong?

He was determined to find out.


*


After they left the café they separated, Akane and Ryoga heading for home while Ranma and Mousse
just wandered. All of them had the day off, nothing pressing to do. The sun was beginning to
set over the buildings - Mousse was used to being up all night, so when they met like this it
was always late afternoon. They drifted into the park, both of them heading for the same bench
as before without a word being spoken. They didn't sit, just stood near it. They were silent
as they watched the lake reflecting bits of sunset - it wasn't as glorious as the sunrise, since
sunset was across the park, but it was pretty enough to see the reds in the sky reflected in the
water. After the colors faded, they started walking again, and Ranma wondered how long he should
waited before bringing up the conversation at the café?

He waited as long as his impatient nature could - a grand total of six minutes. Then, "Why did
you look so sad?"

"What?" Mousse blinked at him through the thick-lensed glasses.

"At the restaurant, when Akane was talking about love. Did you... do you miss Shampoo?" His
heart ached over that question, but the surprised look of near-horror on the other boy's face
instantly soothed it.

"Shampoo?! No!" Mousse paused and went on more calmly. "I know I acted like she was the world
to me, Ranma, but it... I don't know. It was childish - just puppy love, I guess, even if I was
so serious about it. I was already - I was fighting it, but I was already beginning to see what
she really was before Dr. Tofu told me. And then... I knew what her reaction would be."

"Really think they would... kill you?" Ranma felt fury at the very thought. Mousse shook his
head.

"No. Not really. But they would have thrown me out of the tribe - not that it seems like such
a big loss to me anymore - but they would have thrown me out of the café right then, and not let
me take anything with me, I would have been homeless, with no way to earn the money I need."

"Bitches." Ranma said coldly, and the other boy agreed.

"Yes. But that's how they were taught to be - that's the way Cologne's been all her life, and
Shampoo is being trained to be just like her. I don't think you can blame them for the way their
environment's made them. Sometimes I really have to think hard not to agree with it." Ranma put
out a hand and grasped his shoulder.

"You're worth more than that, Mousse. But - if you weren't thinking about Shampoo, then why does
the idea of love make you so sad?"

Mousse didn't reply for a long moment - just walked silently beside his friend, his hands shoved
in his pockets and his eyes on the ground. Ranma didn't push him. He just waited, moving along
the sidewalk as close to the other boy as he could get. After a few moments Mousse sighed and
pushed his glasses back on his head, leaving the big grey eyes staring blankly forward. Ranma
knew he only did that anymore when he didn't want to be distracted by what he was seeing - he
was too greedy for imagery to memorize to walk around half-blind like he always used to.

"It's just that - I don't think I should be so concerned with love any more. I used to devote
everything to it, you know? Everything I did was for Shampoo, every thought I had was about her,
I didn't move without wondering how it would affect her. I was insane." He grinned, and Ranma
grinned back, although he knew the other boy couldn't see it and he really didn't feel like
grinning, anyway. How could he ever hope to compete with a love like that? What Mousse referred
to as a ‘crush' was what most people would give their life blood for - someone so fiercely
devoted to them.

"So why don't you think you should be concerned anymore? About love, I mean?" Ranma almost
didn't want to ask the question - what if Mousse wasn't interested in falling in love again?
Maybe, even if it was just a ‘crush', he didn't have enough of his heart *left* to fall in love
with someone else.

But Mousse just huffed, giving him a half-glare. "Come on, Ranma. Don't be dumb. Who's going
to want to fall in love with me? No one wanted me before, when I could at least see a little.
Who in their right mind would want to be with me now? Do you have any idea how much of a burden
I'll be if I can't get the surgery or if it doesn't work? No one would be that crazy!"

Ranma felt something cold and hard in his chest break up at those words. "Mousse..."

The other boy scowled at him. "What?"

"I... I'd be that crazy."

Mousse blinked.

They both stopped short, having reached a deserted area of the park, and stared at each other.
Ranma's gaze was hungry, eager, hopeful. Mousse's was wary, questioning, searching the other's
face for any hint of deceit.

When he didn't find any, his mouth dropped open a little.

"Ranma...?!"

"I... I..."

"You do *not*, Ranma! You just... it's just..."

"If you say pity, Mousse, I'll punch you." Ranma found his voice suddenly, glaring at the taller
boy. "If I want to love you, I will *love* you, and if I didn't want to, I wouldn't. I *pity*
Kuno for being a poetry-spouting idiot. I don't love him. I *pity* Shampoo for being a stupid
bitch who can't see what she's got right under her nose. I don't love her. I *pity* Happosai
for..."

"I get it, Ranma." Mousse said softly. He was gazing at the other with a faint trace of
amusement in his eyes.

Ranma gulped and stopped his tirade. "So... so can you... would you...?" he trailed off,
uncertain.

Mousse sighed. "I - Ranma, I never even thought..." He watched the other boy's face fall and
hurriedly added, "but give me some time. I... I like you... maybe..."

Ranma lost his kicked-puppy look and beamed at him. "All the time you need, Mousse-chan! But -
can I just...?"

"Just what, Ranmmphf?!" Mousse found out ‘just what' when Ranma seized him by his braided hair
and pulled him into a quick, desperate kiss. Both of them kept their mouths closed, Mousse
frozen with astonishment and Ranma fearful of pushing his friend too far. Two very different
minds were flooded with two very different thoughts.

‘KissedhimkissedhimIkissedMousseI'mnotdeadhedidn'tkillmeIkissedhimfirstkissheletme...'

‘Huh... kissing's kind of... fun...'


*


First kisses, when they don't lead to fistfights, lead to other firsts...

The first time that a small, strong hand closed around a long-fingered, slender one...

The first time Akane's giggling brought two boys out of a blissful gazing-at-you haze...

The first time Mousse hugged Ranma since that one memorable occasion when he'd mistaken him for
Shampoo....

The first time Ranma was bold enough to explore the hot, wet depths of Mousse's mouth with his
tongue...

The first time sliding his hands inside of a shirt to stroke smooth, warm skin got Ranma a hum
of pleasure instead of a startled punch...

And Ranma's favorite to date: the first time two pale slender hands explored inside his shirt
in return.

Ranma sighed at the memory as he stretched out on his bed. He hadn't seen Mousse for three days
and the ache in his chest surprised him. He knew he loved him, but he didn't like dealing with
the painful side of love - worry, loneliness...

"Ranma!" A high pitched shriek had him off the bed and ready for battle in seconds.

"Akane?!"

He rushed down the stairs to find his former fiancee sporting an aura so strong he could almost
taste it. Half battle aura, half intense worry. Something was really wrong.

"What's going on?! Is Ryoga okay?!"

"Ryoga? Ryoga's *fine*! Ranma - we've got to stop her! She can't do it!"

"Huh?"

"She *can't*! Of all the sneaky, underhanded things to do! She's so selfish! It's not *fair*
and we're doing so well! And we've only got four months left to finish earning! She..."

"This has something to do with *Mousse*?!"

Akane nearly staggered at the flare of Ranma's own aura, stopping her frantic pacing.

"Didn't I say so? I thought I did! We've got to stop her, right?"

"Stop who from doing what?" Ranma's voice was frighteningly calm, startling Akane all over again.
Thrilling her, too - he really *loved* Mousse. He sounded so mature! How *sweet*!

"Akane!"

"Oh, right! Shampoo - she was talking to Cologne - she doesn't like spending all the extra money
on wages - she's been hunting for Mousse - someone told her about the bartender at the Golden
Reindeer - black hair, thick glasses - she said if it was him, she was dragging him back to his
‘proper place' - *after* she beats the hell out of him - that's a quote - and she's going
tonight - and who knows how Mousse will act if she gives him an order - you know how weird
Amazons are - no offense..."

Akane paused for breath and blinked, wondering when they'd gone outside? Ranma was striding
through town, heading not for the Nekohanten, like she'd expected, but for downtown and Mousse's
boarding house. It was around noon, he would be asleep.

Or he should have been.

When they got there, the room was empty.


*


Shampoo drummed her manicured fingers against the bar, waiting impatiently for this ‘shift
change' that should bring her stupid, wayward Duck Boy back into her clutches. Who knew the
irritating creature had been so important to the running of her little café? Well, no matter,
she'd have him back in place by morning, and a few bruises wouldn't keep him from waiting tables.

They would just remind him of his place.

She nodded to herself, knowing she was right. That was the way things worked - wasn't he a
member of her tribe? A lowly male? He knew she was his better, his master. How dare he *ever*
go to work somewhere else? This was his ‘training' that he'd left her for?! She'd had to *clean*,
for goodness sake! And all those people had yelled at her...

Her foot started tapping, as well.

"Shampoo?" The familiar voice made her start and turn.

"Airen?!" What on *earth* was he doing here? And mallet girl was with him, and that weird boy
with a bandana...

"Where is he?" Why was Airen's voice so cold?

"Where who, Airen?" She fluttered her eyelashes at him - no point in wasting a flirting
opportunity!

"Mousse. Where is he?"

As usual since he'd vanished, that name stirred anger in her soul. She narrowed her eyes, not
thinking to wonder why her beloved Airen *cared* where the boy was.

"Stupid Duck Boy! Should come soon. Shampoo *kill* him - she wait two hour, already!"

Ranma looked like he was going to explode. Ryoga put a restraining hand on his arm even as
Akane took over the conversation.

"So you don't know where he is?"

"Should be *here* - if Shampoo finds right place..."

"So... you haven't seen him today?"

"No..." She looked at the other girl questioningly.

"Let's go then. He's got to be somewhere."

"Hey, you!"

They turned sharply to see an older woman half-glaring at them.

"Are you Mark's friends? He said you might come by."

"Uh... uh, yeah!" Akane had the presence of mind to remember Mousse laughing over the name his
boss made him use.

"He stopped by and left this for you." She handed Akane a sealed envelope, her movements
reluctant. They had a feeling she would have liked very much to open it.

"He won't be in this evening - left us kinda in the lurch."

Ranma took the envelope, gave her and Shampoo one last measuring look, turned on his heel, and
left.

Akane and Ryoga followed.

The two women blinked after them, then at each other.

They shrugged.

The older woman went back to work. Shampoo went back to waiting.


*


"Open it *now*!" Akane said impatiently, watching as Ranma just turned the envelope over and
over in his hands, worry strong on his face. He almost didn't want to read this - what if
Mousse was... was...

...telling him goodbye?

"Open it, Ranma." Ryoga said, his voice firm. There was no need for them to worry needlessly,
and, "it could be good news."

Ranma sighed. It could be. He slid a finger under the flap of the envelope and slowly tore it
open.

Ranma -

Dr. Tofu sent me a message to
come by his office. He said he
had something important to
tell me. I'm leaving this note
just in case you stop by - I'll
probably be there all evening.
See you tomorrow.

- Mousse

Ranma just studied those words, his brain and his emotions perplexed. One wanted to know exactly
why Dr. Tofu would call Mousse in when he'd had a checkup only a week ago. The other couldn't
decide whether to be relieved or more worried than before.

"Well?!" Akane's impatient voice broke through the temporary haze, and he handed her the note
without a word. Even as she and Ryoga were reading it, Ranma had turned and started for Dr.
Tofu's office. Even if Mousse hadn't asked him to come, he wasn't leaving him alone when
something that *had* to be important was going on. After a moment he heard his friends walking
behind him. They hadn't had to ask where he was going.


*


Dr. Tofu seemed pleased to see them.

"Ranma! Ryoga! Oh, and Miss Tendo! How is... your sister?" He blushed faintly.

Akane looked rather amused. "Oh, Kasumi's just fine! She was speaking of you the other day."

Dr. Tofu's glasses started misting over and Ranma hurriedly jumped in. "Where's Mousse?"

"Mousse? Mou... oh, yes, Mousse, of course. I was just leaving to find you, Ranma. I have
some good news. Mousse is in the hospital."

"T-that's *good* news?!" Ranma sputtered, and Dr. Tofu blinked at him.

"Of course it is. I found a surgeon willing to operate on his eyes for the amount you four had
already earned. He was quite impressed by the story I told him. But he's leaving the country
soon, so it had to be done tonight. Mousse didn't have time to come and tell you." He beamed
at the three teenagers, who gazed dumbly back at him.

It was a bit much to take in at once.

They hadn't expected to worry about the operation for another three or four months. Now it had
hit them out of nowhere, totally blind-sided them. They weren't sure how to react.

For a moment.

"You mean he's being operated on right this minute?! Or do I have time to see him first?" Ranma's
voice was panicky.

"I'm sorry, Ranma. I'm sure he wanted to talk to you, too, but the doctor has to be in Tokyo by
tomorrow evening. Everything was rushed. Don't worry, the surgery is delicate and specialized,
but very low-risk. Mousse will be fine." He started rummaging through his files, talking to
himself. The three teenagers were left gazing at each other again

"So... what do we do now?" Ryoga asked softly.

"We go to the hospital, of course!" Akan gently bopped him on the back of the head.

"And then?"

Ranma replied this time. "And then... we wait."


*****************************************

A/N: The way Mousse felt about love in this chapter is how a friend of mine told me she felt
after being partially blinded in an accident. Her boyfriend proved her wrong. I don't think
blind people are less than loveable, so DON'T FLAME ME! please!