Ranma stopped at a telegraph pole. He had been searching for Ukyou for
an hour, and it was dark now. He ran back through what he knew of her
disappearance.
  Akane and Ranma had arrived at Utchan's to a closed door. This was
strange because Ukyou always greeted them. The door was not locked,
and a quick search of the building revealed only her school bag by the
steps.
  "If she went out on an emergency, she would have left a note," Akane
said.
  "The door could have been closed by a concerned customer. She gets a
lot of business."
  "Should we look for her?"
  "Hai."
  Ranma had met up with Akane once already. They had searched the entire
immediate neighbourhood, asking after Ukyou at every door.
  Akane had left Ranma for a last sweep before meeting again at
Utchan's.
  Ranma decided to head back. He had called the Tendou's, Cologne, Dr.
Tofu and Hinako-sensei before, and would phone the police if Ukyou did
not show up by the time he got there.
  He took a couple of steps, felt a chilling wind. Why does that remind
me of the guy I beat today? Ranma asked himself. Abruptly, he realised
someone was behind him. Pivoting, he demanded, "Who's there?!"
  "It's me, Ranchan," Ukyou said from the shadows. Her tone was icy, but
Ranma was too relieved to notice immediately.
  "Thank god!" Ranma approached her. "You had us really worried. I was
about to call the police."
  He stopped. His warrior sense told him something was not right. Ukyou
advanced into the illumination then, and Ranma took a step back. Her
eyes held a dull, expressionless cast. She wore her casual-battle out-
fit, her hair tied with a pitch-black ribbon.
  "What's wrong, Ranchan?" she intoned, drawing her spatula.
  "U-Ucchan, what's happened to you?" Ranma was gripped by aprehension.
Ukyou wouldn't even _joke around_ like this -- and it was definitely not
funny.
  He leaped obliquely to avoid her first swing but was caught by
surprise (and in the solar plexus) when Ukyou vaulted over the handle
and delivered a kick.
  "Ucchan, stop it!" Ranma said as he moved out of spatula range. That
blow was really powerful -- even more than Shampoo's. She swang at him
several times, and Ranma realised that it was harder to dodge: Ukyou had
suddenly developed a lot more speed.
  He leapt onto a wall and shouted, "Ucchan, is that really you?"
  He was answered by the same blank expression. "Yes, Ranchan. Come down
here so you can walk me to my restaurant."
  Ranma began to respond when Ukyou swung again. Without enough time to
leap upwards, he jumped back, finding himself in the backyard of a
house. Something warm trickled down his chest, and he found that Ukyou's
strike had sliced neatly beneath his collar. He saw Ukyou sailing over
the wall to join him, her now deadly razor-sharp spatula dimly re-
flecting the street-light.
  He leaped  onto the roof, avoiding several thrown spatulas which
buried themselves deeply in the earth and balcony. Ranma took a stance
as Ukyou caught up to him.
  She advanced. "What's the matter, Ranchan? Why won't you _fight
me_?!" The last words almost became a command.
  Ranma concentrated on evasion as the swings and kicks gained speed. He
saw a parallel between the style of his so called 'Nemesis' and Ukyou's
re-enforced movements. In the one-sided battle Ranma picked up a few
more cuts before he broke free of it, facing Ukyou from the edge of the
roof.
  "What the _hell's_ wrong with you?!" he yelled. "Did that weird guy do
something to you?!" Ranma was feeling mostly anger that his 'Nemesis'
had done what ever he had done to his friend, if this was his old
friend.
 Now Ukyou spoke, but the sound was twisted between her natural feminine
tones and an evil, grating voice. "You worked it out," said Nemesis.
Even for Ranma it was spooky. "Well, I'll destroy you tonight. You'll
tire out, while I can push this girl's body untill it breaks!"
  Ranma shivered. He did not see Ukyou's hand move; and a spatula was
embedded in his right bicep. He clenched his teeth and flew backwards to
avoid the following blades.
  There was a splash and a scream. In the air now, Ukyou caught sight of
Ranma-chan's bright red hair flying into the shadows. The twisted,
Ranma-hating part of her said follow, but Nemesis was intent on finding
Ranma, and would not put up with any crazy stories about instantaneous
sex-changing created by a corrupted and psychotic mind.
  Deep in her heart, Ukyou sighed in relief, glad that she had not di-
vulged a fact that seemed so unimportant.


Ranma-chan crouched between two walls. Ting ting-tink-tink. The
spatula dropped from the stiff hand that had freed it. Fighting the
pain, she tore the stained sleeve off and tied it tightly about the
gashed muscle. She tried to ease the pace of her heart, so as to slow
the bleeding, give it time to clot.
  How do I get rid of that guy without hurting Ucchan? Ranma-chan
wracked her brain. Last time he could've fought on, but conceded when
he couldn't beat me. I'll have to weaken Ucchan first.
  Ranma-chan stood, then leaped to the roof of the building. She saw
Ukyou's lithe form by moonlight, and headed for her.
  Ukyou was fast, turning, launched a volley of spatulas at Ranma-
chan. Wait, that's not Ranma! Nemesis was angry. Yes it is!!! Ukyou
countered venomously.
  Ranma-chan somersaulted and cartwheeled through the attack. Good,
she thought, they're her last ones. Ukyou's sudden indecision caused
by her inner turmoil gave Ranma-chan the time she needed. She grabbed
the spatula handle firmly. "Forgive me, Ucchan!" Ranma-chan said, as
she kicked Ukyou in the abdomen to release her grip.
  The red-head folded the weapon upon itself and threw it in the
direction of the canal. Then she was knocked over by a kick to her
jaw.
  Ranma-chan pulled herself up.
  "So, you wanted to trick me by changing to your cursed form," Nemesis
said from Ukyou's mouth, his tone black.
  "What are you talking about?" Ranma-chan was searching for an
opening. She had to disable Ukyou so she would have time to figure out
what to do, maybe get help.
  "It's all your fault, Ranchan!" Ukyou accused.
  "Huh?"
  "If you weren't such a jerk, I wouldn't have to do this!"
  "Ucchan, you're being controlled by that --"
  "Don't you understand?!" Ukyou advanced menacingly. "I'm you fiance,
but do you treat me like it? Do you really care what I feel?" She
snarled: "Are you actually going to MARRY ME?!!!"
  Ukyou hurled herself at Ranma-chan, and it was all the red-head could
do to avoid taking the full brunt of the attack. Ukyou finally a
powerful punch which caught Ranma-chan in her breast.
  She rolled away. Chikkusho! That really hurts! And with the gash I
already have. I've got to calm her down.
  "Ucchan, you _are_ my fiance, but how can you expect to marry me if
you kill me first?"
  Ranma-chan leaped at Ukyou in her momentary inner-battle. She did not
know much shiatsu, but she hoped to find Ukyou's sleep point, or at
least knock her out with minimal pain. Her finger connected but Ukyou
responded with a skillful somersault kick which shredded the rest of
Ranma-chan's shirt.
  "I see," said Nemesis, "You want to disable this body. Well, I can
use her even if you could knock her out, so forget it."
  The next few minutes saw Ukyou making unrelenting attack upon attack
while Ranma-chan did her best to evade and block.
  Then something occured to Ranma-chan. A glimmer of hope, but anything
was worth a try. If Nemesis is controlling him, he may be attached
somehow, she thought. Ucchan's never worn a ribbon like that - it might
be some sort of cursed material. Ranma-chan leaped, somersaulted, and
tore the black ribbon away. Ukyou's hair fell free and whipped around
as she screamed. Her voice began as Nemesis', but was quickly reduced
to her normal tones. Her arm thrashed and caught Ranma-chan's on her
descent. She dropped the material, which settled on the tile.
  KYA HA HA HA HA! YOU HAVE DEFEATED ME AGAIN - BUT WATCH OUT FOR YOUR
FRIEND! I LEFT HER MIND IN QUITE A MESS!
  Ranma did not know how, but somehow the black cloth leered up at her.
In a fit of rage, Ranma instantly created a ball of chi in her hands
and hurled it with unbridled hatred at the ribbon, which was instantly
disintegrated.
  Ranma-chan's sour victory was made worse when Ukyou charged her,
screaming, "You don't care at all!!!"
  Ranma-chan flew off of the roof from the surprise of the strike. It
was much lighter - she could afford to let herself by struck by the
girl. But what would that achieve? she asked herself as she came to
ground.
  "YOU DON'T LOVE ME! YOU LIKED ME BETTER WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WAS A
BOY!" Ukyou screeched.
  Ranma-chan ran.
  Ukyou followed.
  Gotta get to Utchan's - maybe Akane can help, Ranma thought. Lights
were coming on in the surrounding houses because of Ukyou's wailing.
  Ranma-chan reached the restaurant, slammed the door open. "Akane!"
Hearing no answer, she hurdled the griddle and found a note clipped to
the phone. It said:
    "If you read this, Ranma, I got
    worried when you didn't return,
    so I went home to organise a
    search. Call the dojo if you are
    alright.
          Akane."
Ranma-chan was surprised at the emotions which this simple message
brought to her.
  "Ra-a-ancha-a-an..." Ukyou growled from the doorway.
  Ranma-chan dropped the note involuntarilly, and backed into the
kitchen. The note had inspired her. I have to show Ucchan that I
care! "Ucchan, of course I care about you. You're my closest friend."
  Ukyou had retrieved a replacement giant spatula. She slammed it into
the bench. "I don't want to be just your friend! I want to be your
bride!" She advanced.
  I can't sound convincing as a girl, Ranma-chan mused, and turned the
hot tap on in the sink, collected the water in her cupped hands. She
splashed her face. "Ucchan," he resumed, "You're engaged to me. Don't
fight me."
  Ukyou began smashing all of the equipment and fittings within her
reach in her inner-turmoil. "DON'T PLAY WITH ME!!! I -- YOU DON'T
_LOVE_ ME!!!!" Her voice was screeched sobs.
  Then Ranma realised what he had to do. I'll have to, he thought. I
don't how else I can show her... And I can't let her destroy her
kitchen. Throwing away his last tatters of male pride, he approached
her deliberately.
  Ukyou swung madly. Ranma yanked the weapon out of her grip, swiftly
grabbed her shoulders and pulled her lips to his. Ukyou's psychotic
behavoir ceased, and her arms went limp. Her eyes fell closed.
  A bead of sweat appeared on Ranma's hair. He usually would not
_think_ of doing anything like this - but hey, he mused, it calmed
her down. He ended the kiss, drew back slightly. Ukyou's moist eyes
slowly opened, the usual colour and life restored to them.
  "Ranchan..." She collapsed against him. Her free tears coursed down
her cheeks to mingle with the blood on Ranma's chest.
  "Shhhh. Ucchan, you're okay now," Ranma comforted his friend, patting
her back gently and stroking her hair.
  "...Do you love me..?" she whispered, and regreted asking. How could
Ranma ever say yes? She felt him nod, and laughed to herself as she
slipped away, That's how, huh...


Ranma cleared a space on the floor and gently layed Ukyou down. Then
he picked up the phone and dialed for the Tendous.


A screen door slid open somewhere. Ukyou opened her eyes to see an
unfamiliar cieling.
  "Welcome home, Ranma-kun, Akane-chan," said a voice. Was that Tendou
Kasumi?
  Ukyou shifted her head to see the young woman's back, and Ranma and
Akane coming through the doorway.
  "Ranchan," she said weakly.
  The pair sat beside her, opposite Kasumi.
  "How are you feeling?" Ranma asked.
  Ukyou let her head fall back. She blinked slowly, smiled. "I'm okay
now." She grasped for Ranma's hand. He took hers, glancing warily at
Akane. "You saved me. Domou Arigato."
  "You remember then?" Akane asked. "We were afraid that you wouldn't
be able to tell us what happened."
  "It's like a vivid dream. Nightmare," she corrected herself. Sitting
up, she found she was wearing a nightie. "Who's is this? How long did I
sleep?"
  "Well, I brought you here around 9 p.m.," said Ranma, "You were still
out in the morning, so we left you here, and answered for you." He
indicated Kasumi, "You should thank Kasumi-san. She's been looking
after you."
  "Haha. Oh Ranma-kun, you were the one stayed with her all night 'till
you fell over asleep." She turned to Ukyou. "Those are my clothes,
Ukyou-san." She busied herself with the room's arrangements. Ranma was
blushing, while Akane pretended to be bemused. Ukyou smiled knowingly.
  "Ah, I'd better tell you what happened," Ukyou broke the hush. Ranma
and Akane turned their attention to her. "See, I got home after
school..."


Nemesis had failed. It did not know what would happen. As it lost its
awareness, it felt fear. It screamed to nothing as nothingness engulfed
it. Then it was gone.


Ten minutes later, Ukyou had finished recounting her ordeal.
  "That's awful - him toying with your mind and emotions like that,"
Akane had been moved.
  "I hope he comes back - so I can kill him again." said Ranma with
anger.
  "It won't be back," said Ukyou. "You defeated it - destroyed it -
Ranchan. You proved that it couldn't get past you."
  "And you're sure this guy can't attack Ranma in another different
way?" Akane asked.
  "Yes," she looked down. "It was running out of time, or something. It
can't return now." They sat in silence, contemplating what had happened.
Presently, Ukyou said, "Akane-chan, can I talk to Ranchan for a minute?"
  Akane supressed her jealous anger for Ukyou's sake. "Alright, Ukyou."
She left and shut the door.
  "Thanks for not telling her about... you know," Ranma said.
  "She'd boot you through the roof. I don't want that to happen to my
fiance."
  Ranma's tongue became tied. "I... don't think that... It wasn't
because you... were helpless..."
  "Ranchan, it's okay," Ukyou sqeezed his hand. "For whatever reasons,
it's okay, I don't mind. I'm just glad you did it."
  Ranma just blushed and fidgeted.
  "Come on, Ranchan," she smiled, let his hand go and pushed him play-
fully. "I gotta get dressed, then you can walk me home. Unless..." She
grinned.
  "Heh heh," Ranma stood, moved to the door and stepped through. "You'll
need to go to Dr. Tofu. Kasumi said it wasn't urgent, but to go when you
left." He looked back.
  Ukyou caught his gaze, returned it.
  "Ucchan..."
  "Hai."
  "... " Ranma smiled weakly, and shut the door.
  Ukyou turned on the futon and picked up her gi from the clothes pile.
Looking at the patterns of light cast by the screen door, she touched
two fingers to her lips, and sighed.

-END-


And now, the notes you read after the story:
Well, hope you enjoyed this. I don't know if anybody ever bothers to
give feedback to the authors, but you can if you want (it _would_ be
appreciated).
  A couple of things: I used the Japanese name of the Saotome/Tendou
style, Musabetsu Kakutougi, because "Indiscriminate grappling" sounds
too wordy and "Anything goes" sounds too Western. I have a Japanese
exchange student living with me this year, and she told me the name of
this style, so no one can complain. Also, these translations from Viz
don't exactly describe what the style is: a fighting system employing
skills from all other martial arts.
  Nemesis' direct Chi attack I made up myself, though I am unclear as
too the preciseness of the wording. It is supposed to be the "Swift
hand Fire-blade strike." It might be a bit lame, but my Nihongo is
very rudimentary.
  As is evident from the story, I think Ukyou and Ranma deserve each-
other - screw any family commitments. You can expect any other fanfics
that I write to feature Ukyou (with Ranma) much more than Akane. I
tried to focus on the martial arts and details of the fights as I
believe that they are an essential part of Ranma Nibunnoichi, and I
really get a kick out of them (I've been watching lots of Jackie Chan
recently). But I'm going to Japan (!) next year for a whole year (!!!)
so don't expect too much more from me.
  Anyway, any feedback, or agreement that the first Ranma 1/2 OAV series
sucked (dubbed or not), to archer@senet.com.au and we'll see what we can
do about more stories for you. Thanx for reading!