****************************The Legend of
Lujen****************************


By Luis Majluf and Jennifer Yi

Chapter 2: A Sword for Marriage

"I don't want to," Ukyo said flatly, watching the okonomiyaki fry, the
steam forming a cloud 
around her. An apron kept the grease from staining her green tunic
dress. Her long locks tied 
up in a high ponytail to avoid the grease as well.
"It is not a matter if you wish to or not, you will," Ukyo's father
said sternly.
"Hogwash," Ukyo muttered, watching the grease splatter on the wall.
"That is no way to talk to your father, apologize immediately," Ukyo's
mother rebuked.
"Pardon me, oh gracious father, for my impertinence" Ukyo muttered
under her breath as she 
delicately traced symbols on the okonomiyaki.
"You will marry Kuno, And that is my final word." Ukyo's father
dictated. Both parents turned 
around and were exiting the kitchen when the okonomiyaki landed on
Ukyo's father's head.
"Yes father" Ukyo replied.

As Ukyo prepared another okonomiyaki she thought about her father's
so-called final word. 
*That pompous, machistic, insensible, peanut-brained coward* Ukyo
thought. *How do the women in 
this tribe stand the machistic tribal code, which quite conveniently
for men, says, 
that WE have to marry the man other MEN choose??? Senseless idiots!*
The okomiyaki began to 
cook, the grease beginning to splatter all over. *Tatewaki Kuno could
not have been a worst 
choice.* She unceremoniously dumped some vegetables on top of the
okonomiyaki as she fumed 
*But I won't marry. Not even a pack of wildhorses would drag me to the
altar... naw, that would 
be too painful. Oh no, marry that asshole. I can probably envision
life with that one: "Ukyo, 
if it weren't a problem to you, could you possibly arrange for the
confection of another 
okonomiyaki?" He probably hates okonomiyakis anyway. There is no way
I'll marry* Ukyo sniffed 
the air and looked at the now-burnt okonomiyaki. She said: "Perfect.
Kuno deserves this one."

"She is being quite rebellious. I do not understand her strange
behavior," Ukyo's father humbly 
explained to Tatiwaki Kuno.
"Never fear, gracious father-in-law. Once I, Tatewaki Kuno, Blue
Thunder of the Outer Mongolian
Highlands, speak to her, she will be more than desirous to become my
bride," Kuno said smugly. 
Ukyo's father bowed his head to Kuno in relief. "Where is she so she
can be enlightened with 
the wisdom of my words?"
"In the kitchen. It is not necessary for your exalted self to go
there. She will come here and 
speak to you." Ukyo's father replied, rising quickly on his feet.
"I shall be here waiting." Kuno solemnly said. Ukyo's father departed
rapidly. Kuno stood up, 
and smothered his imported blue silk kimono. *These blue japanes
inventions are wonderful, that 
peasant garb the commoner wears was not fit for my exalted figure* he
thought. His sandaled 
feet made no noise as he paced across the matted floors. "Truly," he
mused aloud, "Ukyo is the 
most beautiful maiden in our tribe, and is lucky to have been
designated by our tribe chieftain 
as my bride. I will have to commend my father for his good taste."
A okonomiyaki landed on the back of his head.
"Forgive my clumsiness Kuno," Ukyo said, her eyes twinkling with
mischief.
"Insignificant detail," Kuno said gallantly, as he futilely tried to
get the gloppy okonomiyaki 
out of his otherwise perfectly coiffed hair. "Truly such a mishap
shall not mar my opinion on 
your culinary dexterity. I am sure that okonomiyaki was delicious. A
pity that only my hair go 
to taste it."
"Undeniably a pity," Ukyo assented mockingly.
"Nevertheless, I have not come to talk about okonomiyakis. I have come
to talk about our 
future." Kuno changed the subject.
"What future?" Ukyo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Our impending and glorious marriage. Imagine! You shall become the
glorified and exalted wife 
of Kuno. Do not underestimate the honor that has been bestowed upon
you. Our wedding shall be 
sung about for centuries! The marriage of the brave and courageous
hero Kuno to the okonomiyaki 
princess Ukyo." Kuno rambled on.
"Not if I can help it asshole," Ukyo muttered.
"Pardon me? What did you say?" Kuno turned around and faced Ukyo.
"Nothing, " Ukyo said, smiling sweetly at Kuno.
"I am pleased to see you agree with me. Your father seemed to be
slightly preoccupied that you 
were apprehensive about our marriage. This will dispell all his fears.
Should we start to set 
the wedding date? Perhaps in the autumn of this year would be the
right time, it would give you 
enough time to prepare and.." Kuno babbled on.
"Kuno... I think there's a little detail you're forgetting..." Ukyo
interrupted Kuno's 
ramblings.
"Did I forget something?" Kuno asked puzzled. He rushed to Ukyo and
placed his hands on her 
shoulders. "Or do you want pink flowers in the wedding instead of
yellow one?"
"Kuno," Ukyo's voice rising, "you haven't even asked me if I WANTED TO
MARRY YOU?"
"That doesn't matter... " Kuno smiled. A giant spatula hit him
violently on the cheek, leaving 
Kuno sprawled across the floor as she stalked away.
"I... do... believe... that... she... wants... the.. pink...
flowers..." Kuno thought aloud.

On his way to the chieftain's hut, Kuno started admiring the
village... although in his opinion 
there was nothing to really admire, expcept for his person. *These
peasants... poor ignorants, 
where would they be without my guidance?* The rice fields were just
beginning to sprout, the 
sky was the blue of the unpolluted skies and the breeze was
refreshing. *Ah... mother nature 
has truly blessed our village this year, excellent climatic conditions
and agricultural 
produce, and my long-awaited wedding* he glorified. He entered the
chieftain hut, not much 
more than a slightly more sophisticated dirt-water-and heaven's knows
what else- construction. 

"Understand so I do," Kuno said, frowning. "but, pray tell, how long
before they reach us?"
"A month's time. Not enough to raise an army but..." Kuno's father,
Chieftain Yoshi Kuno let 
the phrase sink in. He faced his son across the table, a map of the
region laid out. The golden 
robe of the tribal chieftain casting a yellow glow on the map. A heavy
sword rested to the side.
"But what , oh exalted father?" Kuno asked.
"But it is enough time for the Patriot Sword to be found," Yoshi
informed his son.
"Surely you must believe myself for a fool. The Patriot Sword is no
more than mere legend!" 
Kuno said disbelievingly.
"It is not. The Patriot Sword's power is legendary and if you can
wield it against our enemies, 
then victory is ours. My spy network has informed that the Sword is
hidden in the Cursed Spring 
of Jusenkyo," Yoshi whispered to Kuno."
"The Cursed Spring of Jusenkyo? Unfortunately, its existence has not
come to my attention," 
Kuno reflected.
"Very few have. I have been told that it is a terrible, accursed
place. Only the bravest are 
able to come out alive," Yoshi said.
"Never fear enlightened father. I shall return with the Patriot Sword
and defeat the infidel 
curs who are our enemies," Kuno replied, standing up.
"I have no doubt you will. When will you be leaving?" Yoshi asked,
rising to his feet. 
"After the preparations are done, which should be by tomorrow. I must
go and inform my bride 
that our wedding shall be post-poned until I return triunfantly with
the Patriot Sword," Kuno 
replied.
"It will not be necessary. Why don't you take her along with you? You
might need company," 
Yoshi suggested.
Kuno reflected for a moment, "Hhhmmmm... excellent idea, dear
progenitor. But I wouldn't want 
to impose myself on her. What if by some quirk of destiny a terrible
mishap should befall on 
her?" Kuno asked.
Yoshi answered, "Nonsense. You will be there to protect her, won't
you?"
"Of course. Then tomorrow I shall depart." Kuno finalized. He bowed to
his father and kissed 
the jade ring when his father extended his left hand. Yoshi looked
placidly as his soon left.
"Finally... I hope this trip makes Ukyo change her mind about my son.
Although I don't blame 
her for not wanting to marry Kuno," Yoshi reflected. "That's why I
hope some sort of... 
understanding between them is reached."
"I never heard of the Cursed Springs of Jusenkyo, sire," Sazuke piped
in, coming from behind a 
doorway.
"Were you eavesdropping Sazuke?" Yoshi asked through slitted eyes.
"Oh no sire, just hearing the wisdom of your words," Sazuke said
innocently.
"Well, its true... you probably never heard of the Cursed Springs of
Jusenkyo, for one reason. 
They're not cursed. I have heard that really they are some sort of
love springs. Whoever falls 
into one of them will fall in love with the first person they see,"
Yoshi explained.
"Ah, I see. So you are sending honourable master Kuno and lovely Ukyo
to these 'love springs' 
to fall in love?" Sazuke asked.
"Really, Sazuke you are a simpleton. I just said that. There is no
need for the Patriot Sword 
and even if they were I wouldn't send Kuno for it; Kuno is just
hopeless. That's why I chose 
Ukyo as a bride; so that at least someone in Kuno's household has
enough grey matter to keep it 
running. Sazuke, you are a simpleton." Yoshi said exasperatedly. 
"And what about the Patriot Sword, master?"
"A fool's errand. Kuno couldn't even find the sea if placed under his
nose, much less the 
legendary heirloom of our people, the Patriot Sword, which we
unfortunately lost in a war with 
the warmongering people of the west."
"Fascinating plan, master! By sending of master Kuno and lady Kuonji
on an impossible errand, 
you hope to cement their relations better so as to have a successful
marriage!"
"Your head must be filled with horse dung, Sazuke, to ask yet again
what has been answered! I 
don't know why I'm even telling you all this."
"Because I asked for the wisdom of your words, oh master," Sazuke said
bowing and leaving.
"Incompetents. I'm surrounded by incompetents," Yoshi muttered.

        Early at sunrise the next morning, Kuno and Ukyo left on
horseback in search of the 
Patriot Sword. Kuno was dressed in one of his many blue silk kimonos
(traveling clothes?!?!?), 
with his proud sword by his side. Ukyo, on the other hand, was dressed
in much more convenient 
peasant's brown clothes, with her unseparable spatula slung over her
back and a hefty complement
of her spatula-shaped throwing daggers skillfully concealed in her
clothes. 
        Kuno was quite pleased that Ukyo had come, although he
expected nothing less. He also 
expected that the Patriot Sword would be another of those relic things
that sort, well you know,
did the job for him and would be no trouble finding it Ukyo was
planning to ditch Kuno once 
they reached Jusenkyo, because there was no way on earth that she
would marry an egocentric, 
foolish, machist asshole. What has destiny prepared for them...well,
read on to find out.



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



Author's Notes:
Here's chapter 2 of our newly-created saga. Hope you enjoy it. As
always, please email us with 
your comments!

Ok, you're probably wondering what's happening here! Well, Ukyo and
Kuno are engaged to be 
married (however disimilar that might sound). And now they're off to
Jusenkyo for a romantic 
get-to-know-each-other. (why anyone would want to know Kuno is beyond
my comprehension). Well 
anyway... stay tuned for the next chapters.

I couldn't find Kuno's father name anywhere- I even checked Caldwell's
Ranma 1/2 universe 
(the most complete site, in my opinion), and he was only listed as
Principal Kuno. So I made 
up Yoshi. I guess it sounds ok.
 
BTW, chapter 3 is in the planning. It should come out in a few days, a
week at most. 
You should see what we have planned for Akane!

Ranma 1/2 and characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, and
SoulEdge of Namco. 
Everything else is a creation of our demented minds. 
Please don't rip us off, and please don't sue us...

Luis Majluf
<98lmajlu@amersol.edu.pe>
Jennifer Yi
<98jen@amersol.edu.pe>

For extra info, updates and stuff visit the homepage I made for this
fic at:
<http://www.geocities.com/~ollantay/lujen/lujen.html>






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