CONTINUED FROM PART 5 PAGE 3 OF 5....


THE UTCHAN
1:00 A.M.

	Ranma was finishing his sixth okonomiyaki, having 
exchanged his torn dress for one of Ukyou's school uniforms which fit 
him fairly well since it was meant for a boy in the first place.  His
hair was once again bound into his trademark pigtail.  Ukyou smiled at
his appetite as she pour some more batter on the grill.   They had 
been talking on and off for the past hour about various things, 
school, Kunou, etc.  Then Ukyou mentioned her confrontation with Nabiki
and Ranma immediately said he would take care of it.


	"I'm not going to let Nabiki do anything to your business, 
Ucchan!"  Ranma growled angrily.  Bits of okonomiyaki flew from his 
mouth when he spoke, and he flushed in embarrassment.

	"I'm a girl too Ranchan, or hadn't you noticed?"  Ukyou 
replied with a giggle.  Then she turned serious as she replied.  "I'm
glad you're worried about me but I'm not going to let that mercenary
girl push me around.  It's time someone taught her how a REAL
businesswoman handles pressure from the competition.  All she does
is exploit idiots like Kunou and...uh....like Kunou who gives her 
money so she doesn't blab about things she sees.  Her and her goon 
squad....

	"I almost became a part of that goon squad...."  Ranma 
reminded her.

	"Are you kidding?  She would have made YOU the goon 
squad and given the rest of her friends the boot!"  Ukyou exclaimed.
"She has no loyalty to anyone but herself and that's going to be her
undoing!"	

	"Yeah....as Kunou might say *Her lust for thy coin defies all 
form of logic.* or some crap like that.  She even sells out her own 
family....well except Kasumi of course...."  Ranma said
matter-of-factly.

	"Hmmm?"  Ukyou inquired.

	"The only person I've ever seen Nabiki leave completely 
alone is Kasumi."  Ranma said.

	"Why?  Is she any different from Akane?  Besides being 
less violent that is...."  Ukyou wondered.

	"I guess it's because she's just so....motherly....I don't 
think anyone could ever hurt or use Kasumi in any way.  Even 
thinking about it makes me feel like a heel and I think Nabiki 
does too that's why she leaves her alone."  Ranma finished.

	"So Nabiki has a heart after all?  Who would have thought?"
Ukyou remarked.

	"Well, I wouldn't go that far...."  Ranma and Ukyou both 
laughed.

	"Here's another one Ranchan!"  Ukyou said as she placed
Ranma's seventh okonomiyaki on his plate, a giant heart written 
in sauce in the center of it.   Ranma noticed it and smiled slightly
as he quickly devoured it.  Then he leans back with a look of utter 
contentment on his face.

	"Ahhhh!  That was delicious.  Much better that Akane's 
Heartburn Helper."  Ranma noted as Ukyou smiled at the compliment.

	"If Akane's cooking is so bad, why not let Kasumi cook all the 
time for you guys?

	Ranma forced a laugh.  "Believe me I'd love that, but 
Akane insists on helping out at least three times a week with our meals.
Besides, we can't count on Kasumi for everything."  Ranma replied.

	"Then why don't you cook?  You're not half bad...."

	"Everytime I offer to, Akane gets mad and says I'm trying to
show her up.  It's hopeless."  Ranma replied.

	"All right....How about this?  You tell me ahead of time when 
Akane's supposed to cook and I'll sneak some okonomiyaki up to your 
room so you don't starve.  Then Akane won't think you're running to see 
me."  Ukyou suggested, excitement creeping into her voice.

	Ranma became nervous.   "Uhhh...well that sounds great and 
all....but...."

	"What?"  Ukyou asked.

	"If....If Akane found out....she'd kill me....dead."  Ranma 
replied feebly.

	"Ranchan, sooner or later she'll hit you for some reason 
whether you accept my food or not.  It's only a question of when."
Ukyou said sincerely.

	Ranma frowned.  He had never looked at it that way.  Even
when he managed to avoid upsetting Akane over one issue, she'd 
bash him over the skull for something else, even if it was imagined.
"You're right...."  Ranma murmured thoughtfully.

	"So, is that a yes?"  Ukyou asked him.

	"Huh?"  Ranma was still thinking about Akane.  "What did 
you say?"

	"Do you want me to bring okonomiyaki to your room when
Akane decides to cook?"

	Uh....S....Sure!  Why not!  Why should I be poisoned when I
can have food like this!  You got a deal!"  Ranma enthusiastically 
replied.  "Just don't let on about it...."  Ranma quickly added as
a vision of Akane pounding him entered his mind for accepting such a 
deal.

	 "You can trust me, Ranchan."  Ukyou said.

	Ranma smiled.  "I know...."

	They looked at each other for a moment. 

	"You know...."  Ranma began.

	"Yes?"  Ukyou quickly responded.

	Ranma paused and then continued.  "Can I ask you a question"

	"Of course."  Ukyou replied, wondering what was on his mind.

	"Do you think I'm a perverted jerk?"

	"What?  Of course not!  You're not like that at all!" Ukyou 
replied, surprised Ranma would ask her such a thing.  "Why would 
you think that?"

	Ranma sighed.  " I dunno....I guess because Akane calls me 
that all the time and I wonder if maybe she's telling the truth..."

	"Akane's wrong!  She doesn't know you like I do!  You've 
nothing like she says you are!  You're a warm kind hearted person
who keeps being thrown into situations beyond your control."  Ukyou
tried to assure him.

	"Am I Ucchan?  I mean, look at me.... It just seems like 
everyone is out to get me.  Akane keeps beating me up for no good 
reason, Mousse and Ryouga keep challenging me to fights all the 
time.  The Principal and Ms. Hinako try to discipline me all the 
time. I getting chased after by Perverts like Kunou and Happosai 
when I'm a girl and psychos like Kodachi and Shampoo chase me 
when I'm a guy.  How can I say I'm not responsible when I have so
many enemies!"  

	"Ranchan...."

	"Every single one of those people have a reason to hate me 
because I did something to them.  I keep calling Akane names and
insult her cooking, I make Mousse angry by dating Shampoo and
beating him up when he tries to attack me.  Ryouga....god knows 
what I've put him through....I won't wear a school uniform at 
Furinkan, I constantly challenge Ms. Hinako's authority in 
homeroom, I encourage Kunou and Happosai to chase me as a girl
so I can use them as a means to a end and I won't tell Kodachi and
Shampoo to take a hike for good because I don't want to hurt their 
feelings!  It never ends Ucchan!  I even gave you a reason to hate 
me....

	"That was your father's fault not yours!  I forgave you for 
running away from me for a long time now....!"  Ukyou reassured him.

	"I know, but I should have realized you were a girl at the time.
If I had only known what Pop was really asking me when he told me to
choose between you and Okonomiyaki...."

	"You would have chosen me as your fiancee...."  Ukyou 
finished in a quiet voice. 

	"Yes."  

	The sincerity of his response surprised him and Ukyou as 
well.  She turned to face Ranma.

	"R....Really?  You would have chosen me?"  Ukyou 
stammered.

	Ranma hesitated briefly, unsure of himself, and then he 
raised his head and looked straight into her eyes as he replied.  
"Yeah....I would have chosen you.  I know that now."

	Ranma looked into Ukyou's eyes and then opened his mouth 
as if he wanted to say more, then closed it again.  Ukyou waited as 
Ranma continued to stare at her, unsure of what to say next.  Then 
Ukyou decided to take the initiative.
	
	"Ranchan....?"  Ukyou whispered.

	"Y....yeah?"  Ranma nervously replied, finding his voice once 
more.

	"Tell me the truth.  Do you think I'm beautiful?"

	Ranma swallowed and laughed nervously as he replied.  
"O....Of course.  W...Why wouldn't I?"

	"No Ranchan! Look at me!  REALLY look at me.  Tell me 
what you see."

	Ranma swallowed hard and looked at her. He had to admit 
that she DID have a cute face, and beautiful eyes that sparkled with 
life, all this framed by flowing hair that hung in lush curves upon her 
pert body.  Ukyou Kuonji was a truly beautiful female.  Ranma found 
himself blushing again and he looked down at his feet.  

	"Well?"  Ukyou inquired.

	With his head still down, Ranma replied  "You....You're 
really....really...."

	"Yes?"  Ukyou waited.

	"Not uncute.  Definitely NOT uncute."  It was the best thing 
he could come up with under pressure. 

	"So you think I'm cute?"

	Ranma began to sweat and his throat went dry as he tried to 
avoid Ukyou's gaze.  "I didn't say....well sort of....that is....what I 
mean is....uh...."

	Ukyou finally had had enough of this and she grasps Ranma's 
face with her hands, forcing him to look directly at her.  Ranma 
trembled with fear as Ukyou spoke.

	"Tell me the truth!  What do you see?"  Ukyou voice was most 
urgent now.

	"I.....I see.......I see....."

	"WHAT?!   WHAT DO YOU SEE RANCHAN!"  she almost 
screamed at him.  Then she lowers her voice and whispers, her eyes 
pleading "P....Please....I have to know....once and for all?"

	"I....I see my best friend.......someone who I respect....someone who
means a lot to me....."  Ranma offered.

	Ukyou remained silent, expecting more.  When Ranma offered 
none, Ukyou released his face and turned away.

	"Is that all you see?"  The tone of Ukyou's voice was 
bittersweet.

	Ranma rose from his stool and gently places a hand on the 
back of Ukyou's shoulder, gently turning her around to face him.  
"Ucchan....what do you want me to see?"

	Ukyou said nothing for a long time and then her eyes 
moistened and a single tear falling down her cheek.

	"I want...."  her voice breaks.  "I want you to see a 
c....cute wife....."

	Ukyou burst into tears as she turned away from Ranma and 
placed her face in her hands, her body was wracked with sobs as she 
cried, not wanting Ranma to see her like this.  Ranma felt his heart 
melt and he found himself walking around the counter to hug her.  
Ukyou resisted for a moment before placing her face on his chest, 
allowing his shirt to soak up her tears as he held her close, trying to 
offer comfort.

	"Ucchan....please don't cry....not for me....I don't deserve it...." 
Ranma said softly, his own voice starting to break.  Ukyou looked up
from her crying at Ranma and was shocked to see a few tears of his own
gently fall down his cheeks.  She had never seen Ranma cry before as a
guy.  Ukyou gently wiped the tears from Ranma's eyes as her own
continued to streak down her face. 

	Then he gently placed his hand on her cheek and wiped the tears from
her eyes, and he tilted her head up, looking down on her with a gaze
full of meaning, not saying anything for words were not needed to convey
his thoughts to her.

	"R....Ranchan...?"  Ukyou said

	Ranma didn't respond.  Hesitantly, Ukyou brought her face up 
to Ranma's, looking deep into his eyes, and she kissed him on the lips.  
	Ranma responded in kind, clumsily kissing back, yet strangely gentle.
Ukyou closed her eyes as she slowly leaned into the kiss, the sensations
she received making her feel wonderful.... 

	Then Ranma released the kiss and took in a shuddering breath, 
both of them looking scared and unsure.  Then Ukyou leaned in close 
and kissed Ranma again, it was a shorter kiss this time, but full of
love and passion.

	Before long they found themselves kissing each other over and 
over again, losing themselves in their passion as they forgot everything 
but each other.  Then a vision came to Ranma, a vision of a girl who 
would be deeply hurt if he didn't stop what he was doing, a girl he 
would lose forever if he allowed himself to continue....

	Ranma stopped kissing Ukyou and looked down at her.  She 
was breathing as heavily as he was and there was intense desire for him 
in her eyes....  

	"Ranchan....?"  Ukyou gasped.  "Why are you stopping....!"

	For a long moment Ranma wondered the same thing.  "Because you love
Akane!" his mind shouted at him.  "No I don't, Ucchan's the one I love!"
Another voice in his head replied.  "You do not!  It's Akane!" the first
voice replied.  "Ucchan!"  the second voice screamed even louder.

	"Ranchan!"

	Ranma shook his head and looked down at Ukyou.  She was 
giving him both a look of concern and irritation.

	"Huh?"  Ranma replied blankly.

	"Why did you stop?  Let's keep going!"  Ukyou begged him.

	Ranma looked down at her, her hair all mussed up, and a 
realization slowly dawned upon him.  It was something that he didn't 
want to admit to himself, but it came for him anyway, relentlessly, 
rising out of his muddled brain to confront him.

	Ranma had stopped because of Akane....

	....and he had started because of Akane....

	....but now he wanted to continue because of....

	"UCCHAN!!!" Ranma yelled as he leapt off her and slammed 
against the wall, shaking in fear.

	"Ranchan!  What's wrong?"  Ukyou asked uncertainly as she 
got to her feet, her clothes disheveled from Ranma's.....attentions.

	"We....We can't do this!"  Ranma replied, desperation in his 
voice.

	"Why the hell not!?"  Ukyou replied with growing frustration.  
"You want me, I want you, what's wrong with showing our love for 
each other once and for all?!"

	"B....But I can't.....I already....I mean....how 
can I....I promised....I mean....but...."  Ranma was blabbering away 
like a newborn trying to speak its first word.

	"What promise?" Ukyou demanded, wanting to know.

	"RYOUGA!"  Ranma suddenly realized that there was a way 
to escape!  "I....I promised to fight Ryouga at the stone bridge tonight 
at midnight!  I'm late as it is!"

	"Who cares about that jackass!  I want to be with you 
Ranchan!"  Her voice softened as she continued.  "I want you 
to...to stay with me.  For the rest of the night."

	Ranma's mind was in turmoil.  The two voices in his head 
continued to shout Akane and Ukyou's names louder and louder as he 
stayed plastered to the wall.

	"Ranchan....please....I need you...."

	"I......I.......I NEED TO THINK!!!!!  Forgive me!"  Ranma 
screamed as he ran away from Ukyou, opened the front door and ran 
away from the Utchan at top speed, leaving a confused and 
disappointed Ukyou behind....

	"Oh Ranchan...."  


*	*	*


THE KUNOU MANSION
1:30 A.M.

	The moon was slightly distorted overhead as Tatewaki Kunou 
lay back on his bed.  Posters and pictures, both large and small, of 
Akane Tendo and Ranma-Chan Saotome decorated his bedroom walls.  
As he stared at their beautiful features, his brow furrowed with worry, 
Kunou began to ramble to himself aloud.

	"I've been such a fool.  It is the very ecstasy of love whose 
violent property fordoes itself and leads the will to desperate 
undertakings.  To think I could love two girls at once was foolhardy and 
makes me no better than Ranma."

	Kunou's gaze hardened as he continued to speak aloud, the 
volume of his voice increasing with every sentence.  "Ranma!  I shall 
certainly smite thee well for forcing my loves to turn to such a twist 
of fate!  You will not enchant their pure hearts with your evil 
intentions.  Evil, thy name is Ranma!  Remorseless, treacherous, 
lecherous, villain!  O, VENGEANCE!!!  

	Without warning,  a wooden club flew into the room, aimed 
directly at Kunou's head.  Kunou instantly drew his bokken and 
deflected the club while leaping to his feet, only to have 30 more clubs 
follow.  

	"TEMBATSU DA DA DADADADADA!!!!"

	Kunou skillfully managed to deflect all 30 clubs but failed to 
block a ribbon with a refrigerator attached to the end of it, crushing
him and forcing the air from his lungs.  Then Kodachi emerges from the 
doorway, wearing a black kimono and an expression of mild irritation.
	
	"Do be quiet bother dear.  I'm trying to catch up on my beauty 
sleep."  Kodachi said sweetly as she closed his door and walked back to
her room.  She entered and closed the door to her room while allowing 
her kimono to slowly drop to the floor, revealing silky black lingerie
as she slipped between the satin sheets of her bed and lay back on her
pillow. 

	 Normally she would be trying to fall sleep quickly, dreaming of
her Ranma-Sama in bed with her, but tonight she finds her thoughts on
a more urgent matter and she too begins to speak aloud to herself, 
secure in the knowledge that no one would DARE object to her 
speaking her mind as loudly as she wished....

	"Curse you Happosai!  A pox on the head of all panty thieves!  
How will I, the Black Rose, live down stealing the panties of high 
school girls?  They'll think I'm mentally unstable!  I can't have 
Ranma-Sama thinking I'm anything but sane!  If I didn't want to defeat 
that chinese hussy so badly, I would kill the lecher where he stood!"

	"Mistress Kodachi?" 

	Kodachi glanced over at the window to see Sasuke, clad in 
full ninja garb, kneeling on her windowsill.  Kodachi briefly considered 
reprimanding him for coming into her bedroom unannounced, then 
decided to let it pass this once and turned her full attention to him.

	"Rise and report."  Kodachi said.

	Sasuke rose to his feet and replied.  "I've kept constant watch 
on Shampoo as you asked when you came back here earlier...."

	"And...."  Kodachi inquired. 

	Sasuke swallowed and pulled nervously at his collar.  This was
not going to be easy to explain....


(FLASHBACK)


A RESTAURANT IN NERIMA
9:30 P.M.

	Sasuke silently made his way among the rooftops towards the 
restaurant.  With the coming of the night, Sasuke was nearly invisible 
in his ninja's outfit as he reached it, jumped down from its roof and 
positioned himself inside a bush just outside the window, giving him a 
somewhat clear view of what was happening inside.  Satisfied he was 
properly concealed, Sasuke checked his camera to make sure it was in 
working order as he watched the events unfold....

	
*	*	*

	
	It had all started when Master Kunou had received a hot tip 
from Nabiki Tendo, informing him his beloved pig tailed girl was 
waiting for him at the Nekohanten dressed for a date.  Kunou wasted no 
time in donning his tuxedo and retrieving a bouquet of red roses, from a 
huge stack by the door, as he ran out of the mansion, delirious with
joy.  

	Then Mistress Kunou had taken me aside and ordered me to follow her
brother and keep an eye on the lovely waitress from the Nekohanten,
Shampoo.  I didn't know why she would ask such a thing of me, but it 
was not my place to question her orders.  So I packed my camera and 
came to the Nekohanten.

	After 15 minutes, I wondered if I should leave since there 
didn't seem to be any sign of Shampoo or the pig-tailed girl at all.  
Then Master Kunou suddenly appeared in front of the restaurant, 
panting and out of breath.  I briefly wondered why my master took so 
long to get here before I  remembered the mysterious *limp* he had 
developed when he returned home from school today.  I made the 
mistake of inquiring about it, and received an icy stare for my trouble, 
which scared me, since my master usually responds with poetry, even to 
the stupidest of questions.  Needless to say, I decided not to pursue
the matter further....

	I admire my master, dispite the way he treats me sometimes, but 
I do wish he were a bit more tactful when it comes to affairs of the
heart.  I watched him enter the restaurant and when he realized his love
wasn't present, he demanded to know her location, only to be thrown out
by the old crone who ran the restaurant.  This angered my master and he 
charged back in, intending to do her bodily harm. His battlecry, a 
long-winded and poetic one, was suddenly cut short and my master flew 
out through the doors headfirst and unconscious.  Stifling a disloyal 
laugh, I checked his condition to make sure he was all right and then I 
entered the restaurant myself.  I politely asked the old woman where the 
pig-tailed girl was and she said she had gone out to a restaurant.  I 
thanked her and left the Nekohanten.

	Quickly rousing my unconscious master, I informed him about
the pig-tail girl's departure and we both left to search for her.  
Unfortunately, the old woman did not give the specific name or location
of the restaurant, and so my master had left, intending to search every 
restaurant in Tokyo until he found her.  A slim chance at best....

	Fortunately, I had a better plan.  I decided to return to the 
source....Nabiki Tendo, only to get her answering machine.  Then I 
went to the Utchan to search for the pig-tailed girl and to my surprise
I found Nabiki outside the restaurant, painting a health warning of some 
type on two white posters with the help of a friend.  I went up to her 
and asked if she knew the pig-tailed girl's location, telling her
Mistress Kodachi needed the information.  Nabiki seemed pleased by this
somehow and went to the public phone to call a friend of hers who would
know.  Then she informed me of the restaurant where the pig-tailed girl
was currently in.

	I wondered how Nabiki's friend knew where the pig-tailed girl 
was but I decided not to question my good fortune and raced towards 
the restaurant, hoping my master would soon follow.

	Now, as I watched from the relative safety of the bush, I 
watched with fascination as I saw my master's true love, for once her 
hair not bound in a pigtail, sitting with the chinese girl I had been 
ordered to keep an eye on along with Ranma Saotome himself, seemingly
sitting right next to my master's love.  Or perhaps she was sitting on
his lap.  The position of the bush I was concealed in and the angle of
their table made it impossible to see the entire table.  I frowned as I
saw the chinese girl seemingly pour cup after cup of hot water over the
red-haired girl and the red-haired girl did the same to Ranma with sake.
Perhaps she was trying to resist his advances or perhaps she was pouring
it down his throat at his command.  I wished I could get a closer look,
but I didn't want to risk detection.

	Then my master suddenly appeared inside the restaurant, 
having found it at last and immediately began courting his love.  
Because of the thick glass of the restaurant, I couldn't hear what was 
being said but then something happened that required no words....

	My master's love grabbed the chinese girl and kissed her.

	I was stunned to say the least.  My master was heartbroken 
and literally fainted from the shock.  I was ready to run in there and 
help him when I noticed Shampoo seemed to be angry at the red-haired 
girl and I decided to continue taking pictures.  Then the chinese girl 
kissed my master's love for a very long time, as I snapped away with my 
camera.  

	Then, to my surprise, the chinese girl turned into a cat before 
my very eyes and the red-haired girl fled in terror at witnessing such 
black magic.  As they ran out of the restaurant, I turned to follow, 
hoping my master would be aright but not wanting to risk the wrath of 
my mistress as I followed the cat to a garbage bin.  The red-haired girl 
had vanished into thin air and I followed the cat all the way back to
the Nekohanten where she went inside.  After an hour, I was convinced
she was not coming out again so I returned home.
 

(END OF FLASHBACK....)


	Kodachi looked at Sasuke with disbelief as he finished his
summery.  "So you're saying that chinese simpleton is not only 
bisexual but a practitioner of dark magic?"
    
	"From what I have seen, I would have to say yes."

	Kodachi was silent for a long moment as she absorbed this 
new information.  Then she gestured for him to leave.

	"I will call you when needed."

	Sasuke bowed to her and quickly departed.  Kodachi closed
her eyes as she wondered how to use this to her advantage....

	"Perhaps it is time I had a talk with Ranma-Sama...."	  


*	*	*         

CONTINUED IN PART 5 PAGE 5 of 5....