----------------
Redeeming Values
----------------
By Shona : Slayer of Five
ukyou@direct.ca
----
I know you just want to get to the story, but I want to make sure no one
sues me. n.n
Ranma 1/2 and all its strangeness belong to Rumiko Takahashi. (All bow
before her genius)
This is just my own small contribution to her universe.
----
"This is spoken"
'This is thought'
----
A storm of images flew through his mind. A common storm, easily
weathered, but one he had never gotten used to.
His friends, his father, the only real home he could remember, he had
left them all behind to start his life over again without the rest of
the world making his decisions for him.
He had to leave, he understood that when he left, and he understood it
now. No one would have approved of his choice. In fact, almost everyone
he knew would be out to drag him back or kill him... or worse, her.
Ranma knew it was dishonorable, selfish even, to abandon everyone, but
he wouldn't risk loosing the one he loved to some other betrothal
he wasn't interested in.
But the knowledge that he had almost lost everything he now had due to
his own stubborn nature was the worst of all his memories...
**** ****
Ranma felt good. For the first time since he left Jusenkyo, he felt he
was going to regain control over his life. His troubles were at an
end... well, no. Trouble followed him everywhere, most of it was his
fathers fault.
'No! I'm not going to ruin my mood. Not now.' Ranma scolded himself as
he felt his thoughts slipping to the resentment he had for his father.
He looked up into the dark sky, studying the stars for a moment before
moving on.
The girls would all be happy to find that he had finally decided between
them. Unfortunately one of them will be _very_ angry when she found out
who was chosen. 'The other one will... no it wouldn't work...'
He had chosen a long time ago, but he did have feelings for the others
and didn't want to see them get hurt. But the other day, another fiancee
had shown up. For a change though, this one quickly learned that Ranma
already had more girl problems than he could handle and had graciously
renounced her claim on him. She left for home, not wanting to get
involved.
In any case, Ranma had had enough of his fathers betrothals and had
decided to finish this fiancee business once and for all. He would tell
her his choice, then he would leave Nerima with her.
****
"What do you mean you didn't ask her?" yelled Ukyou at a cowering
Ryouga.
"I tried, but I...I just couldn't say anything." Ryouga sniffed, "She
was right there smiling at me... I couldn't even say hello. I was so
nervous! Ukyou-san, I just can't ask Akane out!"
Ukyou sighed 'Another chance down the drain.' "Ryouga, you can do it!
Imagine I'm Akane. Ask me out."
"But you don't even look like her." Replied a confused Ryouga. 'This
can't help. I need to ask Akane out, not Ukyou.'
Ukyou led Ryouga to a table. "You don't seem to have any trouble talking
to me. So practice on me." 'I have to get Ryouga and Akane together!
Then Ranchan will come to me!'
Unnoticed by a confused Ryouga or a flustered Ukyou, Ranma entered the
Ucchan, carrying a rose and hoping Ukyou was alone when he saw Ryouga.
He was about to go outside and wait for him to leave before he told her
when he heard him speak.
"Ukyou-san?"
"Yes Ryouga? Ukyou sighed inwardly as she tried to think of a way to
get a refund for the tickets she had bought from Nabiki for Ryouga to
take Akane out with. She hadn't noticed that Ryouga hadn't referred to
her as 'Akane'.
Ryouga took a deep breath, "Would you like to go see a movie tonight?"
Ukyou played into her part. "Why Ryouga-kun! I'd love to!" She replied
happily, trying to encourage him.
Still unseen by the others, Ranma froze, the color drained from his
face, the rose crushed by his sudden fist. He turned and ran back to the
Tendo Dojo.
Ryouga couldn't believe how easy that had been. 'I'll have to try that
with Akane sometime!'
"So do you think you can say it to Akane next time?"
Ryouga nodded, "I'll try harder next time. Shall we go?"
Ukyou looked up, "Go? Where?"
"To the theater...?" Ryouga was getting confused again.
Ukyou couldn't help but laugh. Seeing Ryouga's clueless expression, she
tried to sort things out for him. "Ryouga, you weren't really asking me
out. This was just the practice run. Now hurry and go ask Akane the
same question before you forget how!"
Ryouga nodded and ran out the door. A moment later Ukyou fished him out
of the bathroom and sent him off in the proper direction.
****
Ranma stared at the ceiling. He wanted to sleep, to forget what he saw
at the Ucchan earlier that evening, but the snoring of the panda next to
him was keeping him awake.
'No... that's not why I can't sleep.' Ranma admitted to himself. 'I
waited too long... I kept her waiting... Now I've lost her...'
Ranma quietly slipped out of his room and down the stairs heading for
the bath. He hoped that a long hot soak in the tub would help him to
relax.
He quickly undressed, leaving the bandage on his hand where the rose's
thorns had cut deeply into it, and slipped into the warm water, letting
the warmth spread throughout him. He tried to allow the water to wash
away all thoughts of what he had seen earlier. Ryouga and Ukyou... But
despite his wishes, the memory kept repeating in his mind.
Whenever he felt down, he would always tell Ukyou what was bothering
him, but this time he couldn't.
"But I should talk to Ucchan... Find out for sure..." Ranma whispered to
himself.
"But what if she doesn't want you anymore?"
Ranma looked up in shock to see Nabiki standing in the doorway. He
quickly covered himself up despite the fact that the lights were off.
"What about your feelings?" She asked.
Ranma's surprise gave way to worry. He wasn't ready to have everyone
know who he had chosen. Nabiki would surely tell her family... and sell
the information to Shampoo.
Nabiki quietly slipped through the door and slid it shut behind her.
"You made your choice, but too late." it was half question, half
statement.
Ranma could only nod.
"Don't worry Ranma. I won't tell anyone."
Seeing Ranma's dumbfounded expression, she explained. "Believe it or
not, I know how you feel. I know how hard it is on a person and even I
wouldn't be so low as to try and profit by this."
Ranma visibly calmed down. "Thank you Nabiki... eh? You know how I
feel? Who..."
He was her sister's fiancee and he loved Ukyou. Nabiki _did_ know how he
felt 'I can never tell him how I feel...'
"We're talking about you Ranma, not me. Unless you feel you could afford
to..." Nabiki kept her face straight, used to holding back her tears.
"No!" Ranma cut her off, "Thanks..." Ranma looked out the window.
Nabiki knelt down beside him. "Do you need to talk?"
Ranma knew that his wallet couldn't withstand Nabiki's 'advice', but he
didn't have anyone else to talk to right now. "How much? And how much
to keep you from selling to the highest bidder?"
"This is on the house."
Ranma could have fainted from the shock. "Free! You?" he almost burst
out laughing.
Nabiki quickly clamped a hand over Ranma's mouth to muffle the noise.
"As long as you don't wake up the entire neighborhood!"
Ranma settled down and nodded. Nabiki removed her hand so he could
speak. "I saw her accepting a date with Ryouga..."
Nabiki nodded to herself. 'She told me she was trying to set Ryouga up
with Akane! I gave her those tickets half off!' She was angry at
herself for loosing a chance to get Ranma away from Akane as well as
the profit she could have made on those tickets, but she remained calm
on the outside. "if she likes Ryouga now, you should let her be and
concentrate on one of your other fiancees."
Ranma smiled and silently thanked Nabiki for not being biased towards
her sister. 'She should be a lawyer.' he thought, not for the first
time, 'but who would want to pay her rates?'
When Ranma didn't answer, Nabiki continued, "Don't you care about them?"
After a moment Ranma answered, "Yes, but not like Ucchan... Look at my
choices. If I married Kodachi, I'd end up her slave. She'd use her
powders and potions to make sure I was kept in line. And the
moment she discovered my curse, she'd probably try to kill me in my
sleep. Not to mention the fact that I'd be Kunou's brother in law."
Ranma shuddered. "I don't want her at all."
Nabiki smiled inwardly as she listened to Ranma. 'He's a lot smarter
than he acts.' "So, Kodachi's out then?"
Ranma nodded. "Definitely. Marrying Shampoo would be almost as bad.
I'd probably end up under the influence of her great-grandmother's
spells and living in her village in China. I want to stay here in Japan.
And... I don't love her..."
"But she loves you and you don't want to hurt her."
Ranma nodded. "But I won't marry her either."
"So unless there are any more I don't know about, that leaves..."
"Akane..." Ranma finished for her. "We simply can't get along. We're
always fighting. I don't know if we could make a relationship work..."
Ranma sighed.
Nabiki's hopes soared, it hurt her to see Ranma like this, but her mind
was already at work, trying to find a way to become his fiancee. But
his next words shattered her dream.
"I'm going to marry Akane... At least this mess will be over with..."
Nabiki started to protest but caught herself. She wanted to change his
mind. 'Try to love someone else for a change!' she wanted to cry, 'Try
to love me...'
But Ranma was already heading back to his room. "Thanks Nabiki. You're a
better friend than I gave you credit for."
Nabiki let her tears flow as he disappeared into the hallway. "More than
you'll ever know... My love..." she whispered.
****
Ranma had hardly touched his okonomiyaki. That alone told Ukyou that
something was wrong. When he had arrived at The Ucchan he had such a
sullen look on him that the mood of everyone in the restaurant had
dropped about twelve notches. She had asked him what was wrong, but he
said he'd tell her after she closed. needless to say, The Ucchan locked
up almost two hours early.
Ukyou sat down across the counter from Ranma. "Ranchan, tell me. What's
bothering you?"
"Ucchan... I need to put this whole fiancee business to an end..."
Ukyou held her breath.
"It...It's hard for me to have to say this to you, but..."
'Hard for you? No... Please no...' Ukyou felt her heart tearing. She
didn't want to hear what he had to say. He wouldn't be in such a bad
mood unless... 'Please... God... Don't do this to me!' She wanted to
scream, she wanted anything but to hear what she knew he was going to
say next, but she only nodded her head although she felt about to
collapse into a fit of tears.
"Ukyou, I have to tell you..."
'God, he called me Ukyou...' She could feel the tears forming, out of
her control.
"I'm going to marry Akane..."
Ukyou cut him off. "Please, go home..." she said with her eyes closed,
not wanting him to see her break down like this.
"Wha..." Ranma was surprised. He wasn't going to tell Shampoo because he
wouldn't have left the Nekohanten alive. But Ukyou? he was so sure she'd
be happy for him since she... No, he didn't want to think about that.
"GO!" Ukyou couldn't hold back anymore.
Ranma could only nod. "Hai, Ucchan..."
Ukyou watched him leave. The moment he was out of the door she collapsed
on the floor, sobbing.
****
Nabiki arrived at the small cafe the note had directed her to, wondering
what Ranma wanted. She was just about to sell Kunou some more pictures of
Akane so she could go buy some new shoes and a jacket and jeans and a
new...
"Nabiki!" called Ranma from an isolated booth in the corner.
She smiled and sat down across from Ranma. "You okay? Um... How did
things go with Ukyou?"
"I wish I knew... She's been my best friend since... you know... I
thought she'd be happy for me. But she threw me out! She thought I'd
left, but I checked back after a minute and saw her on her knees where I
left her... crying... I've never seen her this upset before... I'm so
confused!" Ranma buried his face in his hands on the table, not even
trying to hold onto his usual, macho pretense. "I think my life would
get easier with this choice behind me... but it just gets worse..."
Nabiki had to restrain herself from comforting him. "Did you ask her
about Ryouga?"
Ranma looked up. "No. it slipped my mind..."
'My god... He's crying!' Nabiki was in shock. 'in public! In front of
_me_!' She had no doubt that he loved Ukyou now. "Wait for me at home
Ranma. I'll find out what's happening between Ryouga and Ukyou."
Ranma stood up and began to search his pockets for money. She stood up
and stopped him. "All I want from you is a promise. Promise me that if I'm
ever in trouble, you'll come to my rescue. Okay?" Ranma smiled and
nodded, "you have my word Nabiki."
Nabiki kissed Ranma on his cheek. "I'll see you later then. Jya!" She
almost bounced out of the cafe.
For once Ranma's brain jumped to the right conclusion about Nabiki, but
after a moments thought he discarded the notion. 'Nabiki in love with
me? When pigs fly!'
Ranma paid his bill and headed for the dojo. His thoughts wandered to
the last fight he had with Ryouga. They had fallen into the Tendo's
pond and he had then punted P-chan halfway across Japan.
"Willingly and on their own." Ranma amended.
****
Nabiki had found out about the misunderstanding from Ryouga. Not that he
was being cooperative so much as he was delirious. Akane had malleted him
through the dojo wall for some reason earlier that day and he was still
recovering. She was now heading for Ranma's favorite thinking spot, the
roof. She (as well as the rest of the neighborhood) could hear Akane
yelling and breaking bricks in the dojo.
"RYOUGA *crunch* NO *crunch* BAKA!!! *CRUNCH!!!*"
'At least it's not about Ranma this time.' Thought Nabiki, 'He should be
in a fairly good mood.'
Nabiki knew she was loosing Ranma forever now, but she just wanted to
see him happy.
She found him lying on the roof with his eyes closed. She quietly lied
down beside him. After a few moments of silence Nabiki spoke, "It was
just a misunderstanding..."
Ranma sat up. "You're kidding?"
Nabiki ignored the question. 'Why would I lie about this?' She looked up
at Ranma, "She was teaching him how to ask Akane out, probably hoping
you'd go to her afterwards."
"Thank you Nabiki... And... I apologize for how I used to think of you."
Nabiki smiled. "Thank you Ranma... Just remember your promise to me
okay?"
Ranma nodded. "Of course." He sat down and looked off into the sunset.
"I'll go see Ucchan in the morning."
Nabiki closed her eyes. "I'd recommend tonight..."
"Why?"
"I stopped by The Ucchan. She's packing..." It was over. She'd given him
to Ukyou.
Not getting a response, she opened her eyes and looked around in surprise.
Nabiki could see Ranma leaping across rooftops in the distance, heading
for Ukyou's. "Good-bye Ranma..." She lied back down, closed her eyes, and
cried.
****
Ranma could see the 'out of business' sign on The Ucchan's door and
hoped she hadn't left yet. Ukyou grew up on the road like Ranma and
traveled light. He knocked on the door, praying for an answer.
"I'm closed." Came a short reply.
"Ucchan!" called Ranma, "I need to talk to you."
There was a moments silence. Ranma thought she was ignoring him, but
soon heard a click and the door opened. Ukyou had already turned her
back on him and was heading back into the restaurant. Ranma followed
her in, closing and locking the door behind her.
"Ucchan... I..."
Ukyou cut him off. "Ranch... ma... Why did you come back?"
"I..."
"Want to marry Akane?" She interrupted, "Want to abandon me again? GO
AHEAD!!!" She sounded angry at first, but her shouts were slowly
turning into quiet sobs. "just let me go home and try to forget you..."
Ranma quietly walked over to Ukyou. She jumped as he put his hands on
her shoulders. "Ucchan, I have to know something..." He knew he had
misunderstood something, but he only knew what he had seen. "Do you love
Ryouga?"
Ukyou looked up at Ranma in silence for a moment. "Love... Ryouga? What
gave you that idea?" She looked confused.
"I saw him ask you out. You seemed excited at the idea..."
"Ranma, I was just trying to teach Ryouga how to ask Akane... out..."
Ukyou's mood dipped even further as the name reminded her why she was
packing. "I told him to ask her out the same way..."
Despite trying not to upset Ukyou, Ranma couldn't help but laugh as he
figured out a minor mystery from earlier that day.
"What's so funny?!" Ukyou yelled? 'how dare he laugh at me after...
after...' Ukyou was on the verge of tears again.
Ranma sobered. "Sorry Ucchan. Earlier Akane was mad as hell at Ryouga.
We couldn't figure out why, but he called her 'Ukyou' as he tried to ask
her out!"
The hurt look on Ukyou's face drained away as she realized that Ryouga
had taken her instructions a bit too literally. She couldn't help but
giggle a bit, "I did tell him to ask that _exact_ question."
Ranma smiled as he thought about that "If he's that good with
instructions, why is he always lost?" He didn't notice Ukyou's
expression darken again.
"Ranma. Why did you came back?"
Ranma could almost see the pain in Ukyou's eyes. 'This is it. Time to
finish what I started.' "I came over to ask you something last night."
Ukyou was silent.
"Ucchan... After I went back to the dojo last night, I thought I had no
one left but Akane... I thought I had waited too long to tell you..."
Ukyou felt numb. He wouldn't have come to tell her about Akane again.
'He wouldn't hurt me like that.'
"Ukyou... I came here last night to ask you..."
Ukyou's heart jumped 'I'm dreaming. I have to be dreaming.'
"Will... Will you marry me?" He had said it. He had finally said it.
Ukyou fell backwards in shock. She didn't even notice Ranma catch her
and carry her to a nearby chair. He sat there holding her hand, hoping
for an answer.
"Ucchan?..."
Ukyou jumped onto Ranma with a bear hug. "Yes!" she sobbed, "Of course!"
Ranma held her close. "We'll have to leave you know... Everyone we know
will be after my hide."
Ukyou nodded softly. "I understand Ranchan. I'll go anywhere with you."
"I... I chose you a long time ago Ucchan... I'm sorry for making you
wait."
'A long time ago? Then why did he wait?' she thought. "It doesn't matter
now. I love you Ranma."
Ranma took in the scent of Ukyou's hair before responding, "I love you
too Ukyou."
****
Ranma and Ukyou spent the rest of the night planning their 'escape' from
Nerima. Ranma had slipped into the dojo to collect his things, but
before he returned he chanced a look into Akane's room.
He saw Akane silently writing into her diary. Ranma said a silent
good-bye to the girl he might have married. He then noticed P-Chan
sitting on Akane's bed, staring at him. Ranma gave Ryouga a smile and a
thumbs up, and then he was gone.
On a hunch he slid over to Nabiki's window. She was lying face down on
her bed. Ranma thought she was sleeping and was about to leave when he
saw her shift. Nabiki was crying as she looked at a picture she held.
Ranma sat there in shock. The picture was of him. 'She knew I wouldn't
be coming back... But she still helped me...' Ranma pulled a piece of
paper out of his pack and quickly scrawled a message.
Nabiki
Thank you for everything. I'll never forget my
promise to you.
Ranma
He stuck the note into the window and knocked. Ranma was gone before
she stood up.
**** ****
'Such a long time ago...' Ranma Saotome thought sadly. Four years had
passed since he left the only real home he had ever known behind.
A soft hand on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts. Ranma knew that hand
well and unconsciously placed one of his own on hers as he heard her
gentle, but concerned words. "Are you all right Ranchan?"
Without answering, Ranma looked over the clearing where they had been
camping for the last few nights. From his vantage point, he could see
a small pond that reminded him of when he had lived with the Tendos.
After a moment, he replied, "I'm fine Ucchan."
He felt Ukyou's arms slide around him as she snuggled up beside him.
There they sat, watching the sun slowly set over the mountains that
surrounded them.
Eventually, Ukyou fell asleep and Ranma quietly carried her back to the
tent. As they lay in bed, Ukyou had curled up into his arms as usual. As
Ranma drifted off to sleep, his last thought was, 'Why haven't I married
her yet?'
****
Ranma woke suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck were on end and
he didn't recognize the room he was in. Mostly due to the fact that the
room was dark.
He tried to get up, but was surprised to find he was immobilized, unable
to move much more than his head. He couldn't see anyone, but he could
hear the breathing of other in the otherwise silent room.
"Where's Ukyou!" demanded Ranma, fearful for his love.
He really didn't expect a response but he was surprised to feel the
table or whatever it was he was tied to tilt foreword until he was
upright. He winced in pain as an intense light flipped on, blinding him.
After Ranma's vision returned and he had stopped blinking, he saw Ukyou.
She was tied down to a table a few meters away. He began to struggle
against the bonds that somehow held him back. 'Unconscious! She's only
unconscious!' he half demanded, half prayed to himself.
The appearance of two figures in front of him sent his mind into shock
as he realized what was happening. They were both girls, one had short,
dark hair while the other had long, lavender hair.
"Akane? Shampoo? WhaAAH!" Akane cut off Ranma with a slap to the side of
his head, far stronger than any she had dealt him before.
Ranma slowly looked up into her accusing eyes. She muttered one word
before turning away and waking back into the darkness. "Baka..."
Ranma tried to call her back but recoiled in pain. The force of Akane's
strike had dislocated, possibly broken his jaw he realized. He turned to
Shampoo, hoping for some answers and saw her standing over a thankfully
awake Ukyou.
Shampoo had closed her eyes and was removing something from her waist.
'A katana!' Thought Ranma desperately.
The next few seconds were a blur.
Shampoo raising the sword over Ukyou's neck...
Ukyou staring at him, her hand struggling to reach out to him.
"Ranma..." she begged...
Ranma struggling against his bonds with all his strength...
Ukyou's terrified and pleading eyes...
The slow motion descent of the sword...
"UKYOU!" screamed Ranma who was now sitting straight up, his hand
reaching for a fading vision.
"Ranma!" a voice called to him.
Without lowering his outstretched arm, his head slowly turned to see a
concerned and very much alive Ukyou sitting beside him.
"Ucchan!" cried Ranma before collapsing into her arms, all shreds of his
usual macho personality gone, he found himself crying into Ukyou's
shoulder.
****
Ukyou nodded slowly after Ranma had finished explaining his dream.
"Ranchan I..."
Ranma cut her off. "I've become my father! Just like him... I abandoned
everyone! I wouldn't be surprised if they did react like that. God knows
those two have tempers and I've given then more than enough reason to be
pissed off at me!"
Ukyou tried to think of a response, something to soothe his guilt. But
Ranma continued.
"Don't you see Ucchan? I ran from my problems the moment I didn't want
to deal with them anymore... Just like dad..." Ranma stared at the
sleeping bag, unable to meet Ukyou's worried eyes.
"Ranchan, it you had stayed you know what would have happened. Everyone
would have hounded us for the rest of our lives."
"I know, but..."
"Shampoo and Cologne would be trying to brainwash you or kill me.
Mr. Tendo and your father would be after you to fulfill your 'family
honor' as they put it. To say nothing of Kodachi and her brother...
Ranchan?" Ukyou had looked up to see Ranma climbing out of the tent.
"You would have had to leave no matter who you picked." She called after
him.
Ranma froze a few meters from the tent. "I have to go back..."
Ukyou got out and walked over to her fiancee. She leaned on his back as
she hugged him. "Hai."
****
The trip back to Nerima was a quiet one. They were taking a train to
Tokyo and much of Ukyou's time had been spent quietly looking out the
window as Ranma hadn't been interested in talking much and she had
decided to just let him think about how he was gong to deal with seeing
everyone again. He was probably most concerned with how he was going to
handle his father... The fact that he was so quiet was worrying Ukyou,
his anger towards Genma had only increased over the last four years and
she wasn't sure what Ranma might do to him. But he wouldn't talk to her.
Even before he had chosen her, he always confided in her about
everything. His concerns, his dreams, his anger every time another of
his fathers 'unexpected' betrothals showed up, even when he had almost
married... No! She didn't want to think about that day...
As Ukyou's memory forced her to relive the day she thought she'd lost
everything, Ranma noticed tears welling in her eyes.
"Ucchan, what's wrong?"
Ukyou sniffed and looked up at him, smiling softly. "Just thinking of
the past, Ranchan."
Ranma knew her well enough to know exactly what she was thinking of.
"Ucchan... I'm so sorry for that day. I almost made the worst mistake
of my life..."
Ukyou looked out of the window next to her. the scenery was a dull gray
from the rain clouds that covered the sky. "I know... It's okay
Ranchan."
Ranma put him arm around her. "I'm sorry."
Ukyou hugged him softly. "Ranchan, did you love Akane?"
Ranma shook his head quickly. "No... I didn't love her. I liked her, but
she wasn't for me. We would have killed each other eventually." He was
still uncomfortable talking about his feelings.
"Why did you wait so long to choose me then? You never answer that
question. I love you. I trust you. But I'll never truly believe that I'm
the one you love until I know why you waited."
Ranma looked into her beautiful gray eyes and saw the tears streaming
down her cheeks. 'How could I have missed that?' he was even more
ashamed of himself now 'That I hurt her this much...'
"Please Ranma... This time tell me... Please?" Ukyou held herself close
to Ranma, not wanting to let him go, but fearful of what he might say.
Ranma put his arms around her. "All right... I didn't know it was so
important to you... I... I did have feelings for Akane..." He looked
away. "I didn't want to hurt her..."
Ukyou nodded softly and buried her face into his chest, sobbing softly
once in a while.
Ranma held her tight "Ucchan? Are you okay?"
Ukyou slowly nodded. "I'm sorry for making such a big deal about it
Ranchan."
"It's my fault Ucchan. I should have told you before."
"Yes you should have!" Ukyou pulled away from Ranma's arms and turned
away. But she couldn't keep from giggling after a few seconds.
Ranma grinned as he realized Ukyou was just teasing him. "Don't do that
Ucchan." Then he reached over and tickled her a little.
Ukyou leaned back up against Ranma and smiled "Now you know how I felt."
she paused a moment before continuing in a more serious tone of voice.
"You sure you'll be okay talking to her again?"
"I really don't know... But I wont let anyone take me away from you.
Ukyou smiled and snuggled up to Ranma.
****
The mood of the couple had once again turned somber as the approached
the Tendo household. The rail drenched them both as they slowly made
their way down the street.
"Ranchan... I'm here for you no matter what happens. We can just go if
you want..."
"No Ucchan. I have to settle things here first. I don't know what I'm
going to tell them, but I can't ignore them anymore."
"Pig tailed goddess! You have finally escapes the vile clutches of..."
Ranma ignored Kunou, muttering to Ukyou, "He would be out on a day like
this..."
"...gods themselves must weep at the liberation of such a beautiful
flower..." Kunou continued to blabber on, so delirious over seeing his
lost love after so long that he completely missed the fact that she had
walked off without so much as a glance in his direction.
****
Ranma was staring at the door of the Tendo's yard when she felt Ukyou's
arm go around her.
"Don't worry Ranchan. Remember, they can't make you change your
decision. That's not why we're here."
Ranma hugged Ukyou softly. "I know Ucchan. No one can take you away from
me. I... love you..."
Ukyou smiled. Even after all this time, he still had trouble showing his
feelings. Those words were rare but treasured. "I love you too Ranma."
Ranma knocked on the door and Kasumi promptly answered.
"Ranma! Ukyou-san! You're soaked! Come in before you get sick."
Ranma smiled. 'At least Kasumi hasn't changed.'
"Thanks. Kasumi, could you please get a towel for Ucchan? I need to
talk to everyone."
Kasumi nodded sweetly. "They're all having dinner right now. I'll get
Ukyou cleaned up."
"Thanks Kasumi... It's good to see you again."
"It's good to see you too Ranma." Kasumi left down the hallway with
Ukyou.
Ranma watched them go, returning Ukyou's tender smile before heading
towards the family room. She could hear their familiar voices as she
walked down the hall. Everyone seemed to be here and Ranma didn't know
whether to be relieved or more worried. Unnoticed she entered the family
room. "Hi everyone..." she said quietly.
As everyone noticed Ranma's presence the reactions were mixed. Her
father scowled and quietly slid aside to give her a place to sit.
Happosai was nowhere to be seen. 'Thank God' Ranma thought. Soun
fainted. And Nabiki, after a split second of shock crossed her face,
looked back down at her meal in silence, a pained look on her face.
Ranma felt a stab of guilt and promised herself that she'd talk to her
later.
Akane didn't even look up as she quietly excused herself and ran off,
presumably to her room.
Kasumi had set a plate of food on the table for Ranma and had
disappeared again.
Ranma was hungry, but her common sense had matured to the point where he
knew he had to go see Akane first.
"It's good to see you all.." Ranma managed to say before she left for
the stairs. She could feel eyes on her back with every step.
****
After a quick stop in the bathroom to get some hot water, Ranma found
himself standing in front of Akane's room, staring at the wooden duck
hanging on the door.
Ranma knew he was going to have to go through the door and face her. But
what could he say? He didn't think he deserved her forgiveness, but he
had to face up to the fact that he had left her without even saying
good-bye...
**** ****
"She loves you, you know."
Ranma looked up from the kettle of water she was heating. It had finally
finished raining and Ranma wanted her own body back.
Two weeks after the couple had left Nerima, a rain storm had hit them.
It had lasted four days and Ranma had finally given up on staying dry.
She was colder in this form, but she was used to it.
"Who? Shampoo? Kodachi? Feh, I'm just glad to be away from those..."
"Ranchan..." Ukyou cut her off. "I meant Akane..." She didn't know why
she was bothering to say anything, but something about Ranma had been
nagging at her.
Ranma looked back at the kettle. "No she doesn't. She hates me. She
reminded me on a regular basis! Akane yells at me, slaps me, mallets me,
and god-knows-whats me for any little problem! She treated me like her
own personal punching bag..."
Ukyou stared straight at Ranma and crossed her arms. "Then why were you
going to marry her?"
Ranma mentally panicked. 'I can't tell her that I liked Akane too! It'd
break her heart!'
"Look at my other choices!" Ranma said a bit more defensively than he
would have liked. "At least with Akane, my father would be off my back
and I'd get to run a dojo. What kind of future would I have had with
Kodachi? Sure she's rich, but I don't need money. And I don't wanna move
to China with Shampoo!"
Ukyou nodded. "So why didn't you pick Akane then? that seems like your
best opportunity. What do I offer you that could top that?" She knew
Ranma didn't like being put on the spot about her emotions, but she
would never say anything. Ukyou also knew she sounded incredibly
insecure, but she wanted to be sure. She didn't want to be chosen
because she was the 'easy way out' so to speak.
Ranma put her arm around Ukyou's waist at that and found a way out of
the conversation. "The only future where I'd be happy with the woman I
love." Ranma smiled and kissed Ukyou softly.
Ukyou melted inside. She loved it when Ranma was romantic. 'I can wait
to find out about Akane...' She thought as Ranma kissed her.
After a moment (And to Ukyou's momentary disappointment) Ranma turned
away. "Just a sec' Ucchan." She said as she grinned and reached for the
kettle. "I'd much rather be your boyfriend than your girlfriend."
Ukyou smiled "As long as it's you Ranchan."
Ranma poured the water over her head and felt the sudden shift back to
his proper form. He smiled as he held Ukyou but his mind was wandering.
'Ukyou wouldn't lie... Akane loves me? When I chose Ukyou, I didn't want
to hurt her too...'
**** ****
Ranma felt low then, and he felt lower now. He felt bad that it'd hurt
Shampoo for him to disappear. But he never wanted to hurt Akane... And
he had simply disappeared on her...
He knocked softly on Akane's door but didn't get a response. He slowly
opened the door and quietly stepped in. There she was, collapsed on her
bed, her face buried in her pillow, sobbing.
'She looks just like Nabiki did the night I left...' thought Ranma
miserably.
He saw that Akane had grown her hair long again and seemed to be a
little taller, but from this viewpoint it was hard to tell. He was sure,
however, of some other changes. Her weights were gone, there were some
flowers by the window and there was a picture of him on her nightstand.
But the biggest surprise came when she actually said something.
"I'm sorry..." sniffled Akane.
Ranma blinked at Akane, not understanding. His mind ground to a halt,
trying to figure out why he hadn't been the one to say that.
Before he could respond, Akane jumped off the bed and glomped onto him,
hugging him tightly and crying into his shoulder. Ranma just stood there
and held her, unsure of what to do.
After a few moments Akane quickly let go and backed away a few steps,
looking embarrassed.
"Why are you apologizing to me, Akane?"
Akane looked ready to break down again so Ranma led her to her bed and
let her sit down.
"I... *sniff* I drove you away... I shouldn't have been such a pain!"
"Akane..."
She cut him off, almost yelling now, but the anger was directed at
herself. "If I hadn't been such a tomboy... Or had learned to cook..."
"But that's not..."
Akane cut him off again. "You would have stayed!"
"Akane... I had to go. Things would have only gotten worse if I had
stayed."
"I know... *sniff* "Buy why Ukyou!" She was yelling at Ranma now. "Why
not me?"
Ranma sighed. 'Here goes nothing...'
"Because..."
"Because I was..." Akane stammered. "Because I was such a jerk! I wasn't
feminine enough for you! You told me so many times but I didn't
listen..." She broke down, sobbing again.
"Akane..." began Ranma.
Akane interrupted. "I lo..."
**Knock Knock!**
Akane looked up from Ranma and wiped her eyes quickly. "Come in." she
called as cheerfully as she could manage.
The door opened and Ukyou poked her head into the room. "Am I
intruding?"
Ranma began to wave her off but Akane stopped him, forcing a smile. "No,
it's all right Ukyou."
Ukyou stepped into the room and faced Ranma. "Your father wants to see
you Ranchan. he's waiting for you in the dojo."
Ranma nodded. "Hai... I'll talk to you later Akane, okay?"
Akane nodded softly and watched as Ranma silently left the room and
closed the door behind him. She almost didn't notice Ukyou still
standing by her dresser, not knowing what to say.
The two girls just stared at each other for a few moments.
Ukyou finally broke the silence. "I know you're probably not happy to
see me..."
"Actually, I've missed you too Ukyou." Akane's smiles was more heartfelt
now, but she still had to concentrate to keep from sobbing.
"Really? I was worried you'd want to kill me for..."
"Please... I don't want to talk about that right now..."
Ukyou nodded and smiled back at Akane, sitting down in Akane's chair.
"So what's been happening around here?"
****
Ranma stopped at the entrance to the dojo. 'Okay Ranma, this is why
you're here. Face down the old man and tell him once and for all not to
meddle with your life again!' he thought to himself.
With a grim look on his face Ranma silently entered the dojo.
"Ranma!" shouted his father. "For four years now you have allowed
dishonor to ruin the Saotome name!"
Ranma had already heard enough. "Stuff it old man!"
Genma was openly shocked at his son's outburst.
"No more! You have dishonored the family a thousand times! I left to get
away from you and all the problems you caused me! _That_ was
dishonorable, I'll give you that, but look at you! Would an Honorable
man sell his son for food?"
Genma had recovered enough to realize that he was on the defensive.
'This isn't how it was supposed to go!' He thought.
"I always stole you back didn't I?" Genma stammered.
"Oh! I'm sorry father. That was _very_ honorable of you." Ranma's voice
was dripping with sarcasm. "Would an honorable man have thrown his son
into a pit of starving cats? Wrapped in fish paste no less!" He
shuddered at the thought of cats.
"You survived and learned a new technique!"
"Right. Great reasoning there pop. Tell me; what was honorable about
engaging me to go knows how many girls and not telling me or mom about
them?"
"I didn't think any of them would come after you!"
Ranma ignored him. "Speaking of Mother, what about forcing me to hide
from my own mother because of a curse that _you_ got me stuck with?"
"Nodoka?" Genma began to sweat at the thought of committing seppuku.
"I got in touch with her myself last year!"
Genma got afraid.
"And I told her the truth!"
Genma nearly bolted.
"And guess what? She said she knew! SHE KNEW!! All those visits I could
have spent with her!" Ranma was bathed in a fiery blue aura. "She didn't
care. She just enjoyed watching us squirm, hoping you'd tell her the
truth yourself!"
"I didn't know..." Genma sank to his knees.
"Of course you didn't! Want to know something else you didn't know? She
told me about her last visit here. You remember don't you? You just took
off when she showed up! Kasumi told her you were hiding in a hotel
somewhere!"
"I couldn't face her! Not with you gone. She wouldn't have understood...
Well... I thought she wouldn't..."
"You wanna know why she was here old man? DO YOU?" Ranma's face was now
a mask of uncontrolled fury, tears streaming down his cheeks. "She
wanted to say good-bye to you! She died two weeks later! I was the only
one with her at the hospital when she died!"
Genma felt like he had been punched in the gut by a two ton wrecking
ball. "Nodoka... dead?? No..."
"The last thing she said was that she was proud of us. BOTH of us! I
never told her what kind of an ass you've been over the last sixteen
years!"
Genma was still in shock. "Wh... Why didn't you come and get me?"
"She told me not to. God only knows why..."
"Go... Let me be alone..."
Ranma didn't move. "One more thing old man. Never mess with ANYONES life
again, especially mine. I've made my choices and you have no say in
them." Ranma then pulled a carefully wrapped package from his travel
pack and threw it to his father. "And _never_ dare to say that I'm the
one who is dishonoring the Saotome name."
Genma didn't even notice his son leaving as he picked up the long, thin
bundle. Inside he found his wife's katana and a note:
I love you, husband.
Saotome Nodoka
For the next few hours the only thing to emerge from the dojo was the
sound of a man grieving for the loss of his wife.
****
Ranma ran into Ukyou and Akane as he headed back to the house. Both
looked concerned. Akane was unusually quiet, but Ukyou spoke up right
away.
"Ranchan? Are you all right? We all heard you yelling in there..."
Ranma nodded. His anger slowly trailing off at the sight of his love.
"I'm fine Ucchan. That was something I should have done a long time
ago..."
Akane quickly slipped back into the house as Ranma and Ukyou embraced.
Kasumi just as quickly replaced her.
Seemingly oblivious to the argument that the entire block heard, Kasumi
was smiling her ever present smile. "Ranma-kun, would you like to take
the guest room with your father? Ukyou can sleep in my..."
Ukyou interrupted. "No thank you Kasumi. I'd rather stay with Ranma if
you don't mind."
Kasumi looked back to Ranma. "Won't it be crowded in the guest room?"
Ranma smiled. "We'll take the living room if that's okay with
Mr. Tendo."
Kasumi nodded. "Your dinner will be waiting for you in there then. And
I'll make sure you have your privacy."
Both Ranma and Ukyou blushed bright red. "That's not what we meant!"
they began to protest, but Kasumi had already stepped back inside and
closed the door behind her.
Ranma sighed. "That's Kasumi for you. Besides, pop's snoring would keep
me up all night."
Ukyou giggled. "Like your snoring helps me sleep!"
"Hey! I don't snore!" He tried to look angry, but he couldn't hold a
straight face. He grinned and hugged Ukyou. "Well, I guess after four
years, you'd know, ne?"
Ukyou smiled. "After all this time it would be strange not having you
close by as I slept."
Ranma grinned. "Yeah. It would be weird, wouldn't it?"
Ukyou took Ranma's hand. "Come on Ranchan. Let's go for a walk!"
Ranma shook his head. "Sorry Ucchan. But I have to talk to Nabiki. Would
you excuse me for a while?"
"Nabiki? Why?"
"I'll explain later, okay?" Ranma smiled at the puppy dog face Ukyou was
giving him.
"What is it? You didn't love her too did you?" She grinned so Ranma
wouldn't take it seriously.
Ranma smiled back and turned back to the door.
Ukyou grabbed his arm. "Ranchan, please tell me? Why does she mean
anything to you? I thought she just used you to make money."
"I'll explain later. Suffice it to say that if it wasn't for her, I
wouldn't have gone back to the Ucchan before you left that night."
Ukyou nodded and Ranma kissed her softly before heading off to Nabiki's
room.
She smiled to herself as he headed for the living room. 'But why would
she care what happens to us?'
****
Nabiki was slowly reading her diary entry from the day Ranma left when
she heard a knock on her door.
'That could only be one person.' She thought as she placed the small
note she was holding back into her diary and placed it in her
nightstand.
"Come in Ranma." answered Nabiki as she quickly wiped the tears from her
eyes.
The door opened and Ranma silently stepped in. "Hello Nabiki..."
"Nabiki sniffed but was smiling. "I take it you figured out why I was
helping you so much?"
Ranma nodded. "Yeah... It wasn't hard. Even for a 'dense brute' like
me." Grinning, Ranma sat on the chair by Nabiki's desk.
Nabiki giggled at that. "I never really thought of you like that. I
could see that you were a sweet guy...." She trailed off as thoughts of
Ukyou came back to her.
Ranma saw the smile melt off Nabiki's face and sighed. "Even I can't
figure out why so many girls fall for me... Nabiki... I... I don't know
what to say... I didn't even know you liked me until the night I left."
Nabiki nodded slowly. "I know... It's my own fault... I never had a
chance..." She was slowly breaking down. Her tears running down her
cheeks.
Ranma stepped over to Nabiki and put his arm around her. She hugged him
back, and for a while the two just sat there.
Eventually Nabiki let go and smiled. "You *sniff* You should get back to
your wife."
Ranma stood up. "Actually, we're not married yet."
Nabiki blinked in surprise. "You're not? Why?"
Ranma grinned. "You think I'm going to have a wedding without my best
friends there to see it?"
Nabiki smiled back at Ranma. "Go on. I'll talk to you later."
Ranma nodded and turned to go. "Oh, Nabiki?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks... For everything. You have no idea how much it all means to me.
And if that was the real you talking to me that night, then you should
be yourself more often." Ranma winked and was gone.
Nabiki smiled "Thank you... Ranma..."
****
Ukyou and Ranma were quietly eating their dinner. Everyone else had gone
to bed. Those who could sleep, were asleep.
"Kasumi's cooking is still great." commented Ranma.
"Even re-heated." agreed Ukyou. After a moment she added, "I'll cook
everyone breakfast in the morning.
Ranma nodded and smiled, "Start early then. Kasumi gets up _very_ early
to start the chores."
Ukyou nodded. "Okay..."
The couple were silent for a while.
Ukyou had to ask. "What is it between you and Nabiki?"
Ranma just smiled.
Ukyou threw a pillow at him. "Tell me!" she insisted.
Ranma grabbed the pillow out of the air and grinning, threw it back at
Ukyou. She caught it and held it to her chest as she smiled back at him.
"Until the night we left Nerima, I always thought Nabiki was a
self-centered, money grubbing snob."
Ukyou giggled. "She did seem a bit materialistic, didn't she? What
changed your mind?"
"Well, after I saw Ryouga 'ask you out' I went home and..."
****
"Nabiki?"
Startled, Nabiki turned to her door and saw Akane standing there. "Hi
sis. How are you doing?"
"I'm okay I guess... How about you?"
Nabiki immediately put on her poker face. "Why would anything be wrong
with me?"
"I... I heard everything Nabiki... I wanted to know what he wanted with
you..."
Nabiki turned away from Akane. "I... I'm sorry Akane..."
"Hey, don't worry about it." Akane forced a smile. "At least he told you
what was going on. The jerk didn't even say good-bye to me..."
Nabiki hugged her younger sister as they both felt the tears in their
eyes.
****
"Unbelievable..." Ukyou muttered to herself. "Who'd have thought Nabiki
would be kind for free?"
"That was my first reaction..." Ranma grinned. "Actually, my first
reaction was a fit of laughter."
Ukyou giggled and snuggled up to Ranma. "What should we do now? Do you
want to move back here?"
Ranma shook his head. "No... Not back with the Tendos. You saw how Akane
and Nabiki reacted to me. I don't want to put them through that every
day... It must have been like this for them when I was living here."
Ukyou put her arms around him. "What do you want to do then?"
"I don't know Ucchan." Ranma leaned into Ukyou's arms as he thought. "I
still have to see Shampoo you know..."
Ukyou closed here eyes. 'Why? Why do you have to see her? Akane I can
understand, but Shampoo wasn't even a real fiancee for you!' But she
couldn't say it aloud. She only nodded and climbed under the blankets.
Ranma knew Ukyou had never liked Shampoo, but she was his friend and she
deserved to know that he was back. He decided to work it out in the
morning and slowly fell asleep beside his love.
****
A fog was hanging in the cool morning air, and Ranma was glad it had
finally stopped raining. He and Ukyou were walking down the street on
their way to the Nekohanten.
"Are you sure you want to come with me Ucchan?" Asked Ranma. He knew
that Ukyou and Shampoo never got along. And even that was an
understatement.
Ukyou nodded, "I want to make sure she doesn't try anything to take you
back."
Ranma nudged Ukyou teasingly. "She never had me Ucchan."
Ukyou took his arm and smiled. "I know Ranchan. I know."
****
They entered the Nekohanten and were at once greeted by Mousse who
ushered them to a table, gave them their menus, and calmly walked off.
Ukyou and Ranma blinked at each other curiously. They turned back just
in time to see Mousse drop the tray he was carrying and run back to
their table.
"Ranma!? What are you doing here?"
But before Ranma could answer, Mousse had already turned and called for
Shampoo.
Shampoo stepped out of the kitchen and saw two bowls of ramen shattered
on the floor. "What happened Mousse?" she asked.
Ranma noticed that her Japanese had improved since the last time he had
seen her.
Shampoo stormed over to Mousse and pulled out one of her bonbari, ready
to club Mousse for making such a mess. "Stupid Mousse! I just finished..
cleaning..." she trailed off as she saw Ranma.
As he was with Akane, Ranma was completely unprepared for Shampoo's
reaction.
She smiled, "Hello Ranma! is good to see you again." She looked over at
Ukyou.
'Here it comes.' thought Ranma.
"Ukyou! Is good to see you too!"
Both Ranma and Ukyou's minds went into shock at the lack of sudden
violence.
"Great Grandmother! Mousse and I are taking a break!" Shampoo called
back to the kitchen.
Shampoo ushered Mousse into a chair across from Ranma and she sat across
from Ukyou.
Ranma looked around the crowded restaurant. "Um... Shampoo, who will
serve the customers?"
"Don't worry. More of Shamp... I mean, my family has come to Japan to
help run the Nekohanten."
Ranma noticed a middle aged Chinese man cleaning the mess of ramen and
broken bowls that Mousse had dropped. "Who's that?
"He is..." Shampoo paused as she searched for the proper word, "my
father." She smiled.
Ukyou was glaring at Shampoo, "You aren't going to take Ranchan away
from me, you know." the years of rivalry reasserting themselves.
Shampoo's smile faded as she silently stared at the salt shaker on the
table. Mousse gently put his arm around her.
Ranma waited for Shampoo to belt Mousse all the way back to China, but
instead she leaned into his embrace.
Mousse finally spoke up. "After you left, Shampoo was devastated... She
stopped eating, she wouldn't come out of her room..."
Ranma sank into his chair, "I didn't mean to..."
Mousse continued "When she finally did, life returned to normal, but she
never smiled. She didn't care anymore... I was scared she was going to
kill herself..."
Ranma shuddered at the thought. "I... I'm sorry..."
"I couldn't stand to see her like this so I challenged her again."
Shampoo still wouldn't look up, but she did speak. "It was a way to
relieve stress, so I accepted. I figured I'd beat the stuffing out of
him... but..." She had to stop, getting choked up by the memory.
Mousse continued for her. "She went nuts and tried to kill me... I had
to defend myself..." he hung his head in shame.
Shampoo looked up and even smiled. "He put me in the hospital for three
weeks. But he did it. He beat me." She smiled at Mousse. "Great
Grandmother couldn't force me to ignore him anymore, and I came to love
him more than I ever loved Ranma. great grandmother wasn't happy about
it, but consented to our marriage."
Ranma was shocked. "That's incredible! So when is the wedding?"
Shampoo and Mousse both smiled.
"Two years ago." Mousse said.
"You should have let us know!" Ukyou grinned "Well... I guess we _were_
trying to avoid everyone." she blushed.
"We went back to China for the ceremony anyway." Shampoo said. "They
wouldn't have appreciated you being there." She nodded toward Ranma,
"Remember? Kiss of death?" She grinned evilly.
Ranma shivered and nodded.
The years of hate forgotten, Ukyou started chatting away with Shampoo.
Ranma turned to Mousse, "So, no hard feelings then?"
"None." Mousse looked away for a moment. "And, Ranma... Thank you.
Without you in our lives we might never have gotten together."
Ranma grinned. "No problem. Any time you need your lives screwed with,
just call." Mousse quickly joined in his laughter.
****
The sun cast a red glow over Nerima as it disappeared over the horizon
behind Ranma and Ukyou. The couple was heading back to the Tendo's home.
"That went a lot smoother than I could have hope for." Ranma commented
as he looked at the familiar surroundings. He was glad to see Dr. Tofu's
clinic was still here. "I was expecting half of Nerima to be destroyed
in the conflict."
Ukyou giggled. "I wonder how everyone will react when they find out that
Shampoo is pregnant?"
Ranma smiled "Depends on whether or not they believe us that their
married."
Ukyou laughed and put her arm around his. "You miss this place don't
you?"
Ranma looked around. "It's the only real home I remember."
Ukyou smiled, "Things are going a lot better than I thought. We could
move back here if you want."
He looked down at the pavement at his feet. "I..."
Ranma suddenly shoved Ukyou to the ground a few feet away.
"Ranma! What are you doing?!?" Ukyou sat up and saw Ranma already on his
feet, facing away from her. She looked over and saw Kunou who was slowly
getting up and pulling his sword out of the sidewalk where she and Ranma
were just standing.
"Attacking from behind now, Kunou? Even I thought you had more honor
than that."
Kunou brought himself to a full fighting stance. "One such as you does
not deserve the common courtesy. How dare you show your lowly hide?"
'Shit! That's no bokken!' Ranma thought as he saw the gleaming katana in
Kunou's hands.
"And I see you have enslaved yet another innocent flower into your harem
of sin. Prepare to die Saotome!"
Kunou charged with his katana aimed at Ranma's heart.
Ranma easily sidestepped the attack. He was about to follow up with a
simple kick to Kunou's back when a cry stopped him dead in his tracks.
He turned to see Ukyou fall back from Kunou and crumple on the ground.
He saw the blood on the sword.
He saw another katana in his mind, one from a dream.
He saw the dream again. Ukyou's pleading eyes, the sword's descent, the
scream overtaking him. "UKYOU!!!"
The world was nothing.
There was only one thing to see.
One man.
A man who will die.
"HIRYU SHOTEN HA!" cried Ranma
Kunou was thrown across the road and through a concrete wall by the
force of the blast. Ranma ran after him screaming.
"KAKSHU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!!!" Ranma's blows drove the bloody Kunou
further into the rubble. Ranma threw Kunou into the air and kicked him
across the street and through another wall.
Ranma thought of an appropriate way to finish Kunou off. "Let's see
Ryouga top this level of depression." He braced himself.
"Shi..." Ranma could feel the unbelievable force of the depression
pouring into him.
"Shi..." He knew that this amount of power would kill him as well as
Kunou, but he didn't care at this point.
"Hoko... *CLANG!*" Ranma's head had solidly connected with a giant
spatula which sent him flying. He picked himself up and saw Ukyou on her
knees, blood seeping into her blue outfit, turning it black.
"Don't kill him..." Ukyou barley managed, "you'd never forgive
yourself..." That was all she was able to get out before she collapsed
to the ground.
'She's alive!' was all Ranma could think as his body went into
auto-pilot, scooped her up, and ran with her to Doctor Tofu's.
"H... How did you know he was coming?"
"Saw his shadow. Don't talk Ucchan."
****
"What about Kunou?"
"What about him?" sneered Ranma. He looked down into his dinner. He just
wasn't hungry. Ranma wanted to stay with Ukyou at the hospital, but the
doctors wouldn't allow it, so here he was, waiting. Something Ranma is
not very good at.
Akane was shocked by the pure hatred in Ranma's voice and wished she
hadn't asked.
Nabiki quickly changed the subject. "Ranma, how is Ukyou? You haven't
told us how she's doing."
The hate drained from Ranma's face and turned to worry as he remembered
what the doctors told him. "She has massive internal injuries and
bleeding... They don't know if she'll make it..." Ranma could feel tears
in his eyes, but he didn't care, he wasn't trying to impress anyone
anymore. "Excuse me... I need to... I want... be alone..." Ranma
could no longer think straight and simply left the table.
Everyone worriedly watched him leave.
****
Ranma blanked his mind, concentrating only on the bricks in front of
him. As long as he didn't have to think about the possibility of losing
Ukyou, Ranma didn't care what he did. So he had tried something his
former fiancee usually did when she was upset, shattering bricks. Not
just breaking them, literally pulverizing them.
A fine mist of dust had begun to fill the dojo by the time Akane
arrived. Ranma had begun to choke on it, but he didn't seem to notice as
he kept destroying the bricks.
Akane quickly grabbed the next brick just before Ranma could punch it.
Instead, his fist went through the wooden floor of the dojo, sending
shards of wood everywhere.
Ranma didn't pull his hand out of the floor. Didn't even look up. "What
can I do?" he asked, oblivious to the mess or the dust in the air.
"Come outside to talk, okay Ranma?" asked Akane who was having trouble
breathing.
Ranma finally noticed the dust. and they quickly left the dojo and went
to sit under a tree beside it.
Akane looked at Ranma. "Is there anything I can do?" she asked
hopefully.
Ranma just shook his head. "I don't even know what I can do... What if I
lose her? I should have been... I could have... Why!? Why did this have
to happen to Ucchan? I wasn't able to stop Kunou... It's my fault..."
"No it's not Ranma..."
"How would you know?" interrupted Ranma, "You weren't there..."
"But I do know that you... Think of how many times you saved me. If you
could have done something you would have. You probably wouldn't have
even realized you had moved until afterwards. Your reflexes are too good
to not believe that."
"If my reflexes were that good, Kunou would never have gotten close to
Ucchan!"
"Ranma! Don't think like that! I know you better than that."
"You don't know me at all! It's my duty to protect Ukyou and I failed!
Now she might die because of it!" Ranma got up and stalked off.
Akane sat there and watched him go. "I'm just trying to help..." she
whispered to herself as she started to cry, "Why do I always make you
angry?"
****
Nabiki was getting ready to go see Ranma herself when she saw Akane run
into her room, slamming the door behind her. 'This is not going to be
easy..." she thought to herself.
After a quick stop in the kitchen to pick up some tea, Nabiki headed for
Ranma's favorite thinking spot. 'The last place I saw him before he
left...' thought Nabiki sadly. 'The roof...'
****
Ranma heard her approach. "Hi Nabiki..."
Nabiki sat beside him. His eyes were closed, just as he was on the day
he left. "Hi Ranma. How're you holding up?"
"I'm not..." replied Ranma with no hesitation. "I blew up at Akane for
no reason, and I don't know if I'll ever see Ucchan again..."
"What will you do if she doesn't make it?" She didn't want to hurt him,
but he had to face the possibility.
Ranma's fists clenched, "I don't know what I'll do... But Kunou _will_
die if that happens..."
Nabiki poured him a cup of the tea she had brought with her. "Here. This
won't help, but you didn't eat anything earlier."
Ranma sat up and accepted the tea. "Arigato Nabiki." He took a drink.
"My throat is dry..."
"I know... Would you believe that Kasumi has already finished cleaning
the dojo?"
Ranma grinned, "I forgot how fast she is. She might have made a decent
martial artist if she hadn't had to take care of..." Ranma stopped short
as he saw the tears in Nabiki's eyes. "I... I'm sorry."
"No. It's all right... No one knows but I still miss mother this
much... No one but you..." Nabiki couldn't hold back any longer and the
tears started to roll down her cheeks.
Ranma put his arm around Nabiki's shoulder and hugged her softly. "I
know how you feel..." Ranma thought of his own mother's last words...
"I'm proud of you Ranma... You and your father... Try to forgive
him..."
Ranma could never forgive his father... He never really got to know his
mother because of him... "I know..."
****
Ranma hardly noticed as Akane and Shampoo left the dimly lit hospital
room where Ukyou was sleeping.
'Sleeping... Yeah right...' thought Ranma sadly. 'If it were only that
simple...'
The doctors had finally allowed visitors for Ukyou, but she was still in
a deep coma. The injury was severe and they still weren't sure if she'd
live. Everyone had come, but Ranma wanted the last hour alone with her.
After he heard the door click shut, Ranma managed to hold on for a few
more moments before breaking down into tears.
"Ucchan! Please wake up Ucchan!" Ranma grasped her hand.
Ranma prayed for a response for a time, but receiving none he spoke
again, encouraging her to wake. "Ucchan... I can't lose you... Not like
this! I need you..."
For the next hour Ranma repeatedly switched between speaking softly to
Ukyou about times he spent training with his father and when they went
to see Ukyou's father, to begging her to wake up and come home with him.
When the nurse finally told Ranma he had to leave, he turned to her and
asked, "Where is Tatewaki Kunou?"
"I.. In 11-a, but visiting hours are over now."
"I'll only be a moment..." Ranma quietly said and he brushed bast the
nurse. Grabbing a pot of coffee from a tray and carrying it off with
him.
****
Kunou was slowly drifting off to sleep when he heard the door burst
open.
"Saotome! Come to finish what you began? You wretch. You would attack a
man in a body cast wouldn't you..."
Ranma reached the bed and slapped a hand over Kunou's mouth. "Shut up
Kunou!" He had a plan to get Kunou off his back once and for all. "Just
listen to me once okay?"
Kunou couldn't do anything about it so he only nodded.
Ranma stood back. "First. Your 'pig tailed girl' is ME! I was cursed a
couple months before I met you. Cold water changes me into a girl! Can
you imagine how embarresing that is without having a _guy_ trying to
date you?!"
Kunou couldn't believe it. 'The cur lies... But they do look alike...
Could it be?'
"You don't belive me? watch this! He grabbed a vase of flowers and
dumped the water on his head. Changing before Kunou's eyes. "Get it?"
She yelled in her now-higher pitched voice.
She dumped the scalding coffee over her head and became himself again.
"Second! I have no interest in Akane anymore." He yelled, seemingly
oblivious to the pain, "If she wants you, you can have her. I love
Ukyou. You know her well. She's the one you ran through with your
katana." Tears were forming in Ranma's eyes and the look of hate on his
face wasn't lost on Kunou.
'He has to be lying! But still...'
"Last. If Ukyou dies..." Ranma's eyes narrowed to slits, "You die."
Ranma turned and left, quietly closing the door behind him.
'Could it all be true?' was all Kunou could think of for the rest of the
night.
****
*knock knock*
Akane looked up from her diary. "Come in."
Ranma stepped into the room. "Hi Akane..."
"Ranma! I'm sorry..."
Ranma hushed her. "Stop apologizing to me. I lost my temper the other
day... _I'm_ sorry. You were just trying to help..."
Akane smiled, "Thank you Ranma. That means a lot to me."
"Akane... Can I talk to you?"
"Sure!" Akane looked just a bit too excited for Ranma's taste.
"Wherever I go, I just hurt people and make them miserable, right?"
"No Ranma, you... I mean..." Akane couldn't find the words because she
knew he was right. "You're right. But not the way you mean it! Just
because all the girls seem to fall for you... And what your father's
done... It's not your fault..."
"When I came here originally... Your life was turned upside down...
Nabiki's... Shampoo... Even Ukyou... When I left, it happened all over
again! Now I come back, and it starts all over again! The only time that
life's been peaceful since Jusenkyo has been while Ukyou and I were on
the road... And now that's over because I came back..."
Akane nodded, "I know... But none of us blame you. After you left, I did
a lot of thinking. Remember when I was being chased by all those guys
every morning?"
Ranma nodded.
"I thought that was hard on me... But then I realized you had it harder
because you actually liked the girls who were after you..." Akane looked
away. "At least some of them..."
"Don't think like that Akane... I did like you... But we would have
killed each other at the rate we were going... I'm sorry Akane..."
Akane shivered as she remembered their frequent arguments. "I... know...
Please forgive me for being so closed minded?" Akane's eyes were misting
up as she waited for his answer.
Ranma nodded. "Of course Akane. _If_..." he trailed off.
"Na... Nani?"
"If you'll forgive me for being a stubborn, insulting, jackass." Ranma
grinned.
Akane beamed. "You're forgiven."
Ranma smiled. "Thanks Akane... For hearing me out."
Akane nodded and was about to say something when Kasumi and Nabiki
burst into the room.
Kasumi looked like she was on the verge of tears while Nabiki relayed
the news.
"Ranma! The hospital just called. Ukyou's gone into shock. She's
flatlining!"
Ranma went _through_ the window and out into the night in the direction
of the hospital.
'Please be all right Ukyou.' thought Akane, 'Ranma needs you...'
****
Ranma was sitting in Ukyou's room in a bed of his own now. After Ukyou
stabilized, Ranma had been given permission to stay with her. (The need
to treat all the cuts he had suffered from Akane's window helped with
that.) He made sure that someone showed him how to read the instruments
in the room so he could tell if something was going wrong with Ukyou.
He scratched at one of the larger bandages on his arm for the hundredth
time as he watched his love slowly breathing. Her still form being
covered only by the thin white hospital blanket. Ranma gently put his
blanket over top of hers, hoping a little extra warmth would help.
"Please don't leave me Ucchan..." whispered Ranma softly, "You're all I
have left..."
****
In Ukyou's dreams, she was reliving her past. When she first met, and
lost Ranma as a child... The pain of the next ten years as she trained
and searched for him to take her revenge... When she found him and also
found that she couldn't hate him... When she thought she had lost him
forever...
**** ****
"GO!" Ukyou couldn't hold back anymore.
Ranma could only nod. "Hai, Ucchan..."
Ukyou watched him leave. The moment he was out of the door she collapsed
on the floor, sobbing.
"Why? WHY!!" She yelled at no one in particular. "Why not me..."
****
Ukyou looked at the remains of her grill. She had just thrown her combat
spatula through it in frustration.
Nagging thoughts of 'What does she offer him that I can't?' and 'He's
just abandoning me again...' kept the tears in her eyes all afternoon as
she made plans to return home. Other thoughts, ones that would keep her
from even that began to crop up from time to time. Ones that promised an
end to the pain.
Ukyou dropped to her knees and began to cry again as she realized she
was actually contemplating suicide.
****
She didn't care about the building. Ukyou just left the tables and
chairs where they were. She left her storeroom of ingredients where they
sat. She left the mess of her griddle. She even left most of her
possessions behind. She had put an 'Out of business' sign on her door to
let her regulars know she wasn't coming back.
She took one last look at the business she had made prosper over the
last two years before heading to the counter to get her pack.
Just as Ukyou slung her bag over her shoulder, she heard a knock on the
door.
"I'm closed." She called.
Ukyou's knees buckled as she heard the voice on the other side of the
door.
"Ucchan!" called Ranma, "I need to talk to you."
She wanted to run out the back door and leave him behind. She wanted to
beat his head in with her combat spatula. She wanted... She wanted to
see him just one last time...
****
They had left Nerima three months ago and she still couldn't get Ranma
to answer her question.
'Why was he going to marry Akane if he didn't love her? They'd just end
up fighting all the time.' Ukyou thought as she watched her fiancee go
through a kata.
His answer was always the same. "It would have been a mistake." And then
he'd change the subject.
_Her_ fiancee. She had won! It still hadn't sunk in with Ukyou that she
no longer had to fight for Ranma's love. She knew she might still have
to fight to keep it, but with Ranma at her side she could do anything.
Her heart beat just a little faster as she watched her love go through
the fluid, dance-like steps of the kata. Ukyou was disappointed to see
it end.
Ranma sat down beside her. "I can hear you thinking Ucchan."
Ukyou put her arms around Ranma and snuggled up to him. "I'm sorry
Ranchan, I know you don't want to talk about it." She didn't know why not
though, and that's what was troubling her.
Ranma put his arm around Ukyou's shoulders and leaned into her embrace.
"Do you trust me Ucchan?"
Ukyou looked up into Ranma's eyes. "Yes. Of course I do. What kind of
question is that?" She was confused by the way Ranma had asked. 'Would I
be marrying you if I didn't?'
Ranma smiled gently, "Then please believe me when I say that I love
_you_. I wouldn't have married anyone else unless I didn't have you."
Ukyou smiled. That was only the third time he had said that. She sat up
and kissed Ranma softly. "I love you too Ranma. And I do believe you."
****
Nodoka Saotome was originally angry at Ranma for breaking his engagement
to Akane, but after he explained how Genma had arranged his marriage to
Ukyou as well, she relented and congratulated Ukyou on being the one he
finally chose.
Ukyou and Nodoka had many long talks, Ukyou's family, Ranma and Ukyou's
future and their past. They became the closest of friends and Ranma
finally got to be with his mother. (Even though Nodoka still teased him
by calling him 'Ranko' in his female form.)
This lasted for three months, and now Nodoka was dead. She had caught
some type of virus. Ranma said it was the same one that had killed
Akane's mother.
Now Ukyou was holding her love as he cried for his mother. He had just
finished shattering boulders, trees, and any other inanimate objects he
could get his hands on while screaming at his father.
Ukyou knew that Nodoka's last words were asking Ranma to forgive Genma,
but she knew in her heart that would never happen. Nodoka didn't know
about the other girls Genma had forced into Ranma's life. Or about the
torture he put Ranma through as a child. 'If Ranma's stories are to be
believed.' Thought Ukyou.
"Ucchan..." Ranma quietly spoke to her, "Don't ever leave me... You're
all I have left..."
"I'll never leave you Ranchan." Ukyou promised.
**** ****
"Never... leave..."
Ranma's head shot up and he started hitting the emergency alert button
at the head of Ukyou's bed. "Ucchan! Ucchan! Can you hear me?" He was
almost shouting as he clasped her hand with his.
Ukyou slowly opened her eyes and squeezed Ranma's hands lightly. "I'll
never leave you Ranchan." She repeated with a little more strength in
her voice.
Before Ranma could say anything else, an army of doctors and nurses
burst into the room. Seeing Ukyou, they ushered Ranma out of the room so
they could work on her.
****
After two hours of pacing through the waiting room, Doctor Tofu
appeared.
"Tofu Sensei! How is Ucchan?" Ranma was stretched beyond the limits of
his patience and already had to restrain himself from going back to see
what was happening. He had just hurdled over a row of chairs (with
people sitting in them) to get to Doctor Tofu more quickly.
Tofu smiled. "She's all right Ranma. The injuries were already healing
well, and now that she's out of the coma..."
Ranma cut him off. "When can I see her?"
"Just a moment Ranma. I just want you to know that we still don't know
when she'll be discharged. We have to make sure the cuts on her internal
organs are healed well enough for her to move around. It's a lucky thing
that the Kunou boy's sword was so sharp to leave such a clean cut. There
won't even be much of a scar on her. Having said that, she's waiting for
you in her room. And to answer your next question, yes you can stay with
her."
Ranma thanked Tofu and headed for Ukyou's room.
****
Ranma quietly stepped into the dimly lit room.
"Hi Ranchan." whispered Ukyou.
Ranma dropped to his knees beside his fiancee and clasped her hand with
his. "Hi Ucchan... Are you all right?"
Ukyou coughed slightly but nodded. "I'll be fine. I just ache in my
lungs when I breathe, but the doctor told me that would go away in a few
days." Ukyou's voice was strained, but she managed to smile. "I'll be
back to making okonomiyaki for you soon."
Ranma smiled. "We'll see, Ucchan."
He sat quietly, staring into Ukyou's eyes. He could only think of how
beautiful she looked in the soft light coming in from the parking lot
outside.
"Ranchan, what are you thinking about?"
Ranma smiled. "I'm just glad you're okay. I don't know what I would have
done without you."
Ukyou's return smile was interrupted by a yawn.
"We should get some sleep Ucchan. I'll see you in the morning."
Ukyou nodded slowly, half asleep already.
Ranma pulled up Ukyou's blankets and leaned over her. "I love you
Ukyou..." he whispered before kissing her softly and heading to bed.
Unseen by Ranma, Ukyou's lips slowly formed a smile.
****
The next morning Ranma crept out of the room while Ukyou slept and went
to call everyone and let them know Ukyou was all right.
Kasumi had answered and everyone had expressed their relief that Ukyou
was recovering. They said they would come right over and pick up Shampoo
and Mousse on the way.
Ranma had no sooner hung up the phone when he heard a crash somewhere.
He was running back to Ukyou's room before he even finished thinking,
'Who else in this hospital draws as many problems as I do? It has to be
Ucchan's room!'
As he burst into the room, he surveyed the wreckage. Half the outside
wall had been torn down from the outside, and Ukyou was gone. He
immediately ran out onto the damp lawn and scanned the parking lot.
Listening for any sign of Ukyou.
An older man in a wheelchair pointed north and called to Ranma. "He went
that way! Carrying a girl over his shoulder!"
"Thanks!" called Ranma as he ran off after whoever kidnapped Ukyou.
****
"Ukyou all right?!" Asked Shampoo.
Nabiki and Akane nodded. "Yes. We're going to visit her now. Do you want
to come too?
Shampoo nodded "Great Grandmother." she called, "Mousse and I are going
to visit Ranma and Ukyou in hospital."
The four of them left the Nekohanten but before they could catch up with
everyone else, Ranma ran by with a look of fury on his face. He didn't
even notice his friends as he went.
"He wouldn't have left without Ukyou." said Akane.
Cologne pogoed out of the Nekohanten. "Perhaps she left without him. And
going by the reports I've been getting on her condition, I doubt that
she could have done so by choice."
Akane started running after Ranma. "Come on everyone. We have to find
Ukyou!"
****
Genma, Soun and Kasumi arrived at the hospital and knew something was
wrong. The gaping hole left in the side of the building was their first
clue.
Kasumi clasped a hand over her mouth as she realized who's room that
was. The others had already figured that who else's room could it be?
Genma ran up to the nearest doctor and asked what had happened.
"Um... A.. A power surge blew up some equipment in this room. No one was
here, it's not that big a problem." The doctor nervously spun out the
story they were going to give to the press. After all, who would believe
a single man forced down the wall with his bare hands?
Genma would have none of it. He grabbed the poor doctor by the collar
and lifted him off his feet. "Don't give me that! My son and his fiancee
were in this room!"
The doctor was sweating nervously now. "S... Some guy was seen looking
into windows earlier, but before we could get security, he reached
out... and did....something. I don't know what, but it knocked the wall
in. And before we knew it, he had grabbed Miss. Kuonji and run off.
Mr. Saotome ran off after them. That's the truth!"
Genma let the man drop and turned to Soun, "Life's almost back to
normal..."
"Don't worry Saotome-kun. Ranma's always been able to deal with this
sort of thing. I'm sure they'll be fine."
Genma looked back at the rubble of the room and saw Kasumi already
helping to clean up. "I guess there's nothing we can do..."
****
Even Ranma had to stop and catch his breath after a while. He listened
carefully, but nothing out of the ordinary could be heard.
"DAMN!!" Ranma yelled. it was pointless to run further. His quarry could
have turned dozens of times or even gone into the subway system by
now... No. Not with a girl over his shoulder. 'THINK Ranma!' He'd have
to stay out of the publics eye... The rooftops!'
****
Akane thought they might finally catch Ranma as he stopped, but then he
ran into an alley and went up a fire escape. "Ranma! Wait!"
This time Ranma noticed Akane and dropped back to the ground.
"Akane! Someone's kidnapped Ucchan!"
Akane nodded. "Dad, Kasumi and Uncle Saotome are at the hospital."
"Not much help there then. I was thinking that they might be on the
rooftops."
Akane nodded while Nabiki and the others arrived.
"Where Ukyou?" asked Shampoo.
Ranma hung his head slightly, "I don't know... I don't even know who
took her..."
****
Ranma and his friends headed back to the dojo to think of what they
should do next.
"Why me, Akane? Why do these things always happen to me?"
Akane and Ranma were walking a little ways ahead of the rest of the
group so they could talk.
"I don't know Ranma..." She stopped as she saw the look on Ranma's face.
The hairs on the back of Ranma's neck were on end. 'Someone's watching
us.' Then he heard a whistling sound.
Akane was surprised as she felt Ranma grab her and jump back with her,
but the crater that appeared where they were standing surprised her
more.
"Saotome!" Called a voice, "Prepare to die!"
Everyone looked up and back to a roof and saw Ryouga Hibiki standing on
top of a four story building... Holding Ukyou over the ledge by the neck
with one hand.
**** ****
"Oh P-chan! Why did he leave me! The jerk didn't even say good-bye..."
Ryouga watched Akane flop down on her bed crying. Everyone had figured
out why Ranma had disappeared as well as who with. Akane was devastated.
She told everyone else that she was glad the hentai was gone... But here
she told the truth to her pet piglet. Countless times, Ryouga had to sit
there and listen to Akane tell him how much she loved him or cry over
how much he had hurt her.
Every time, Ryouga became more determined to destroy Ranma for hurting
her. And this time was the last. 'I'll stay here for Akane... But if
Ranma ever comes back I'll destroy his happiness before I kill him...
And I _will_ kill him for this.'
Ryouga as P-chan could only do one thing for Akane right now though. He
nuzzled up to Akane's cheek as she cried herself to sleep.
**** ****
Ryouga grinned evilly as Ukyou struggled against his choking grip. "You
destroyed my happiness. You destroyed Akane's happiness. Now I will
destroy your happiness!" With that he dropped Ukyou and laughed as she
dropped to the pavement below. And just to make sure, he unleashed a
barrage of bandannas straight down after her.
Ranma plowed past Akane and Shampoo as he ran to catch Ukyou. he could
hear Ukyou screaming his name as she fell.
He didn't make it in time.
Nabiki did.
Both girls fell to the ground as Nabiki tried to catch Ukyou. they were
both knocked out by the force of the impact.
"NO!!!" Ranma yelled as the deadly bandannas flew towards their targets.
But he was too far away. 'I can't save either of them!' Then out of
nowhere he saw the impossible.
Genma had lept into the air from the other direction and landed on the
two girls. All five bandannas imbedded themselves in his back.
Ranma was about to help his father when Ryouga landed in between them
and unloaded a slew of punches at Ranma.
Ranma flipped back, avoiding the blows. "Shampoo! Mousse! Help them!"
he called just before he was knocked foreword. Somehow, Ryouga had
gotten behind him.
"You're going to die Ranma." Mocked Ryouga standing with his hands on
his hips as Ranma pulled himself off the pavement.
Ranma wasted no words as he went on the offensive He threw a punch that
was meant to take Ryouga's head off... But Ryouga wasn't there. He
suddenly felt an impact in the small of his back and went flying.
"Ranma!" cried Akane.
Ranma got to his feet. "I'm okay Akane."
"Not for long Ranma." said Ryouga as he disappeared again.
Suddenly Ranma found himself under attack by at least a dozen bandannas.
Each from a different direction. he barley dodged them all, but saw two
heading for Akane.
"AKANE!" he cried as he dived for her. He was able to cover her, but the
two bandannas, and one he hadn't seen landed in his left shoulder blade.
Ryouga looked back at the others. "I think I'll let Ukyou live. I'll let
your last thoughts be of how miserable she'll be with you dead. But it
looks like your father's had it." Ryouga started laughing.
"AAARRGGHHH!" screamed Ranma as he charged Ryouga. But Ryouga had moved
again. Ranma saw it this time. 'He's learned to speed up that much? He
might as well be teleporting!'
This time Ryouga ended up by Shampoo who was trying to revive Genma. He
looked down at Ukyou. "Maybe not. I want to see the look on your face as
she dies." He shoved the still unconscious Nabiki out of the way and
prepared to drive the tip of his umbrella into Ukyou's head.
Ranma launched a flying kick he knew wouldn't connect if Ryouga
teleported again. But if he did, he couldn't hurt Ukyou for the moment.
Ryouga saw him. 'Doesn't he realize he can't touch me if I see him
coming? My Time-Step technique lets me move too fast even for him!' He
invoked the technique and saw everything around him slow to a crawl. But
he couldn't move! He looked down and saw Genma's arms around
his waist. "Damn!!" He tried to pry the old man off him, but found he
couldn't move his arms in his time frame. He could move them, but it
would take forever. He looked up and saw Ranma flying foot first towards
him at a snails pace.
"If I go back to normal time, I won't be able to block him! I have to
try to stop him here!"
After what felt like an hour to Ryouga, Ranma's foot finally came into
reach. He tried to push it to the side, but it wouldn't budge at all. He
decided to push directly against him.
The instant he touched the bottom of Ranma's foot he felt an incredible
pain shooting through his arms! He couldn't move them, and as the
pressure built up in them as Ranma moved slowly foreword the pain
increased to the point where he could no longer hold onto the Time-Step
and time resumed normal speed. In an instant before Ranma connected with
his face he felt his arms get crushed along their length. Ryouga was
unconscious before he hit the ground.
"What the hell happened to his arms?" asked Ranma. "I guess he couldn't
move with you holding him, ne pop?"
"Ranma... He can't hear you..." Shampoo whispered.
Ranma looked down at his father. Genma wasn't breathing...
Ranma didn't even notice as two ambulances Akane had called arrived.
Ukyou was awake and being carried to an ambulance. "Ranchan?"
Ranma didn't notice as he looked down at his fallen father.
"It's... not over..." mumbled a weak voice. 'I've lost everything.
EVERYTHING!!!'
Ranma looked over at Ryouga who was glowing with pure rage. "Get Back!"
He yelled to the crowd.
"Shi..."
Mousse grabbed Shampoo and ran behind the ambulances. The nearest medics
carried Genma to cover.
"SHI..."
Ranma watched Akane follow the Chinese couple. He had almost unleashed
this power on Kunou. Then he saw Nabiki still lying on the street. He
dashed to her and began to carry her off, ignoring the pain in his
shoulder.
"HOKODAN!!!"
The world went white. Ranma covered Nabiki but both were thrown
foreword.
****
All Ranma could see was the light surrounding him. He couldn't move, but
at least he didn't hurt anymore.
'Wait... There is somone here... Ucchan?'
Ukyou appeared before him. Wearing her usual blue outfit and spatula.
Smiling brightly as a wind he couldn't feel tossed her long, dark hair
and her white bow.
He reached for his love and she reached out to him. As she took his hand
the world faded to black he heard her voice. "I love you Ranma..."
****
"Ranma, come on! I enjoy you being so close, but you're heavy!"
Ranma blinked his eyes into focus. The first thing he saw was Nabiki's
evil grin. "S... Sorry." He blushed as he got up, and immediately fell
down again due to the pain throughout his back.
"You okay Ranma?" asked at least half a dozen worried voices.
The medics sprayed some type of anti-burn foam on his seared back. It
killed the pain enough for him to move about. He looked over at the
smoking crater Ryouga had left behind. It was at least twenty meters
across. One of the ambulances was demolished in the blast.
"Ucchan?!"
"Here Ranchan. I was in the other one."
Ranma walked to the center of the rubble. he looked back. "Ryouga?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Ranma sighed and looked down. Somehow a Black and Yellow bandanna had
survived the blast.
He picked it up and stared at it for a while. "I wish things were
different between us... I never meant to cause you or Akane or anyone
any pain..." he whispered. He let the bandanna flutter to the ground and
headed back to his friends.
****
The funeral had been a short one. Genma was buried with his wife with a
small memorial for Ryouga nearby. The bandanna hung over it.
Everyone had already left. Except Ranma who stood over the graves of his
parents in silence. Ukyou stood a few meters behind him.
"Ranchan... We should get back to the hospital. Doctor Tofu said we
shouldn't stay too late." She knew he wanted to stay. But the burns on
his back still hadn't healed.
Ranma nodded slightly. At first he thought of how little time he had
spent with his mother and how he blamed his father for it... and almost
everything else that went wrong in his life. But then he realized that
if it weren't for his father he never would have met Ukyou or any of the
others... Life would have been a lot duller... Granted he still had
things to deal with, he knew now that he _could_ deal with them.
He turned to Ukyou and took her hand. The skies were dark, but it wasn't
raining.
On their way back to the entrance of the graveyard, Ranma stopped.
"Ranchan?"
Ranma smiled "How would you like to re-open The Ucchan?"
'This is it!' thought Ukyou. 'He wants us to stay. We'll finally be
married!' She looked up at him, "You want to stay here then? No more
wandering Japan?"
Ranma nodded and smiled. "And no more putting 'us' off."
Ukyou smiled and nuzzled up to Ranma as they walked.
Ranma thought back to his father. 'I guess I can forgive you after all.'
***** END *****
***************
This is my first real attempt and a fanfic. It took me over a year to
write and I would love to get some real feedback on it, public or private.
This fic started off as something silly whre I got to pair up Ranma with
my favorite of the fiancees, but as I wrote I realized that the underlying
focus was Ranma's relationship with his father witch seemed to be at least
as big a problem as who Ranma was going to marry.
I'm also interested in seeing if anyone want's to continue the story or
write some adventures for Ranma and Ukyou set during the time while they
were travelling.
Fans of Akane please don't flame me. I know Ranma and Akane are destined
to be together, but thats what fics are for. To let us create and explore
other possibilities. ^_^
Shona - Slayer of Five
Shawn Trommeshauser
ukyou@direct.ca
"Must you bring logic into everything we do?"