OVER THE COUNTER
A Ranma Fanfic by CBear <cleng@mnl.sequel.net>

All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I’m just a broke fan. J C&C is
appreciated... this is just a very drafty kind of draft... I need help in
some parts, especially, the Ryoga parts. Anyhow, hope you enjoy it!

*	*	*	*

Ukyou had just said goodbye to her last customer and was, at the moment,
lovingly cleaning her okonomiyaki grill. It had been an incredibly long and
tiring day – Saturdays were always very busy at Ucchan’s. She had had to
take care of all the customers alone all day, and she felt that any moment
now she would fall asleep on her feet.

Thunder crashed in the distance, and she shivered lightly in the nippy cold
that was signaling  the fast approach of winter. It was raining hard that
night, the icy cold rain harshly rattling her roof quite different form the
friendly pitter-patting of rain in the spring. The loud rush of the water as
it poured from her rain gutters had established a counterpoint to the steady
whish of the rain and the howling wind.  

She sighed wistfully, placing an elbow on her now-cooled grill and putting
her chin on top of her hand. On nights like these… it was just so difficult,
feeling so tired and knowing that at the end of the evening she would be
going up to her cold and empty apartment, with no one waiting to kiss her a
welcome home and to ask about how her day was. And when lighting flashed and
the thunder startled her awake, there would be no one around to soothe her
and say that everything was all right.

On nights like these – it was so much harder to be living alone.

Above the steady sound of the wind and the rain hitting against her windows,
the strident ring of a bicycle bell echoed through the night. Probably some
impatient man wanting to get home, to get warm, dry, and pampered, she
thought with a sad smile, resuming her half-hearted swipes on the
already-sparkling grill. Funny, she was so tired she could feel her eyelids
dropping, but all of a sudden she didn’t want to go home. At least down
here, in the glare of her restaurant lights, it was easy to pretend that any
moment now someone would come along, just as lonely for company, in need of
food… in need of… her. 

But of course the grill was clean, and the sign saying that the Ucchan’s was
closed had been posted outside more than an hour ago – and no one with half
a mind would go out in that violent autumn storm just to have an okonomiyaki
they would have to pay for when they could get one at home, made by some
loved-one’s skilled hands. 

She shook herself, her long brown ponytail swishing from side to side with
the motion. What was wrong with her?  She had a thriving business earning
enough to provide for herself and be independent… and she had many good
friends… and she had Ran-chan. It was silly, feeling so sorry for herself,
when it was only a matter of time before he realized that… that… it was only
a matter of time, wasn’t it?

A soft, shuffling sound on her door, barely audible above the rain drew
Ukyo’s attention away from her wistful thoughts. She pushed herself away
from the counter and cupped her hands around her mouth. "Sorry, but I’m
afraid we’re closed," she shouted to whomever was outside. "Come back
tomorrow!" Then, feeling guilty for keeping her doors closed to anyone
outside in such inclement weather, she decided to let the stranger inside
anyway. She sighed as she pushed herself away from the counter, yet felt her
mood lift a little at the prospect of company.
A sudden rush of wind and rain met her as she opened her door, only to find
there was no one standing there after all. Her face fell in disappointment
and was about to close the door again when a plaintive squeal at her feet
caused her to look down and find a small black piglet looking up at her with
a pleading expression on its face.

She stooped down and hesitantly touched the yellow and black bandana tied
around its neck. The pig gazed up at her with eyes that looked almost
grateful and began to squeal happily, startling her. It was almost as if the
pig recognized. She rested on her knees and peeked around the door to check
if anyone else was outside, but didn’t find anyone there but a huge backpack
and an open umbrella a few feet away from her door.

"What are you doing outside in such bad weather, honey?" she cooed at the
pig as she stood up. "Happen to know who owns that umbrella?" 

The pig bweed softly, and she suddenly chuckled, her heart feeling lighter.
"What am I doing? It’s not like you can answer me." She glanced
speculatively at the backpack and the umbrella and sighed. "I guess I better
bring those things inside just in case someone comes looking for them
tomorrow, don’t you think?" 

The pig nodded solemnly at her and caused her to laugh even more.

"You’re a smart little pig, aren’t you?" she told it with a grin. "Well, you
stay put and I’ll get those things… then I’ll prepare us both something to
eat." She dashed out into the downpour and tried to lift the backpack off
the ground, but found it too heavy for her to carry. Shivering in the icy
cold rain, she lifted the surprisingly heavy umbrella over her head and
dragged the backpack inside her restaurant.

"Ugh! How can an umbrella weigh so much?  Now  I’m soaking wet!" she
exclaimed, shaking herself off and squeezing some of the water from her long
brown hair. She scowled at the backpack on the floor. "And my floor is all
wet, too." Another blast of wind and rain rushed into her door and reminded
her that she had kept it open. She quickly stooped down and lifted the
piglet in the crook of one arm and hastily closed the door with the other.

The pig squealed contentedly and snuggled against her, and her scowl melted
away into a gentle smile. "You’re a cute little thing, aren’t you?" she
said, stroking one of its ears absently. "I don’t know who left you out in
the rain tonight, but I sure am glad that I found you." The pig bweed softly
again and nuzzled her hand, as if it was trying to tell her that he was glad
she took him in, too. She grinned again. Somehow, the thought of sharing
this stormy night with another living being, even if it was just a pig, was
very appealing to her. Besides, there was something familiar about this
particular pig…

Ukyo glanced down at the pig in her arms, and laughed when he looked up at
her, squealing softly. She carried over her new companion to the kitchen
counter, placing him on top of her grill, studying him intently as she took
one of her rags from underneath the counter and gently dabbed him dry. She
touched the yellow and black bandana again, fingering the wet silk and
biting her lip in concentration. There really was something familiar… 

"I know… you’re Akane’s pet pig P-chan!" she suddenly exclaimed, lifting the
pig and causing it to squeal. "What are you doing away from the Tendo Dojo
on a night like this, honey?  What if I hadn’t found you and …" Suddenly she
laughed again, so hard she almost dropped him. "I can’t believe this… I’m so
lonely that I’m trying to make conversation with a pig!"

An indignant "Bwee!" caused her to look up at P-chan, and she saw the
wounded expression in his eyes. On impulse, she hugged him to her. "I’m
sorry, honey," she said, stroking one of his ears. "I didn’t mean to hurt
your feelings. I’m just not very used to talking to animals." Thunder
rumbled, sounding even louder now because the torrents of rain had
temporarily dwindled into a gentle pitter-patter whispering upon her roof. 

"I promise I’ll return you to Akane tomorrow – but for tonight, I’m really
glad you’re here. I hate this kind of rain. When it’s raining like this,
it’s even harder to be…" She trailed off, suddenly feeling tears fill her
eyes. She put the pig down and used one of her hands to wipe her eyes. The
pig trotted towards her and nudged her, bweeing worriedly. 

"Oh, don’t worry about me," she said, giving him a rather watery smile. "I’m
fine. Just the weather getting to me, I suppose." The pig looked up at her,
its big, round eyes still filled with concern. "Really, I promise, I’m fine.
Thanks for asking. Are you hungry, P-chan?  I can fix you something to eat
if you want." 

P-chan nodded, squealing happily. She lifted him from the counter and hugged
him again, then placed him on the floor. 

"You stay put, okay?" she told him. "You might find the front door by
mistake, then I’ll have to go out in the rain to get you back." She left the
room to get some ingredients for her an okonimyaki special. 

In less than a two minutes, she had two okonomiyakis happily sizzling on the
grill that she had sworn would not get dirty again until the next morning.
Their delicious smell filled the cozy restaurant, suddenly a lot more
cheerful just because she wasn’t the only one there. P-chan was obediently
sitting on the spot where she had left him, looking up at her with grateful
eyes. She grinned down at him.

"Smells great, doesn’t it?" she asked. The pig nodded. "I can’t believe
this, but something about you tells me it would be a sin to feed you
leftovers," she said to him, flipping over one of the okonomiyakis unto a
waiting plate. She was about to put the plate down on the floor in front of
him when she thought better of it. Instead, she flipped the other
okonomiyaki unto another plate, added her special sauce to both,  then took
both plates, walked around the counter, and placed them on top of one of the
tables. P-chan trotted after her and paused to look up at her as she sat
down on one of the chairs then bent down to pick him up. She placed him on
top of the table and nudged one plate towards him.

"Go ahead," she invited. "Eat up. I made that just for you."

P-chan bweed happily and began to eat, nibbling delicately but quickly,
eating like no pig Ukyo had ever seen before. Akane must have trained him
well. She herself began to eat her okonomiyaki. The silence between them was
accompanied by a sudden deluge of rain, rattling insistently upon the roof,
the autumn wind howling on – but Ukyo didn’t mind it as much. 

"Good?" she asked P-chan as he finally glanced up from his plate to meet her
smiling eyes.  P-chan stood still for a few moments, just looking at her,
eyes wide and startled, nodded solemnly at her, then resumed eating the last
few bites of food on his plate. 

"Almost as good as Kasumi’s cooking, I’ll bet," she went on, taking another
bite of her own okonomiyaki then laying her chin on her hand with a wistful
sigh. "Oh, P-chan. What’s it like living with a family?  I’ve been living on
my own for so long that I think I’ve forgotten." Tears filled her eyes
again, and she closed her eyes to hide them. One large tear fell on the table. 

A clip-clopping sound caused her eyes to snap open, and she found the piglet
sitting on his haunches beside her plate, nudging her elbow. "You probably
think I’m very silly," she said ruefully, picking him up and holding him to
her. "It’s just that… you know. I just wish I could talk to someone who
understands. Do you know what it’s like to be… alone? "

Against her chest, she felt the pig nod solemnly then nuzzled her arm. 

"Well… you’re right, I’m not alone now, am I?" She kissed him on top of his
head, shifted him into the crook of her arm, then stood up and took both
their plates into the kitchen. Then she got a kettle, filled it with water,
and set in on the stove to boil. Afterwards, she went out to the dining room
again, setting P-chan on top of the counter and feeling her grill for heat.
Feeling that it was cool enough, she began gently scraping off the remnants
of the two okonomiyakis with one of her spatulas.

"Ranchan was here today," she said softly, concentrating on her grill. Over
the scraping sound, she heard a disgusted grunt from P-chan, and she looked
at him with a grin. "You don’t like Ranchan very much, do you?" 

P-chan nodded violently.

"I guess I don’t blame you… sometimes he just isn’t very likable," she said,
now wiping the grill off with a soft rag and chuckling softly. "Akane must
talk to you like this all the time, so I bet she’s told you stuff about him
that isn’t very nice. But… actually, he’s very special."

P-chan snorted at that, and his snort was punctuated by another rumble of
thunder.

"But he is," Ukyo said, putting the rag away. "He may be insensitive and
arrogant, but he… he doesn’t like hurting people." She sighed, staring into
the pig’s eyes. "Actually, I think that’s one of the reasons why he ends up
hurting so many people so much – but he doesn’t know it." She paused for a
few moments, biting her lip to keep it from trembling.
 
She suddenly turned away and went back into the kitchen to get a mop,
leaving P-chan on top of the counter. She wiped away the puddle on the floor
around the knapsack, then slowly dragged the heavy knapsack to one corner.

 "They fought again today, you know, on the way home from school," she said,
suddenly breaking the silence. "I think it was about Shampoo again, I’m not
really sure." She walked back to P-chan and picked him up again, absently
stroking his ears. "He didn’t really tell me all the details. He just sat
here, with this look on his face…" She went over to one of the tables close
to the counter and sat on one of the chairs, still holding the pig in her
arms.  "I can’t explain it… it just hurt me so much because I know that he…
he’d never wear that look on his face for me. Just for… just for her." 

She sighed softly and P-chan sighed with her. 

"I know he loves me," she went on. "But I don’t know if… it’s just because
I’m… his best friend. I like to think it’s only a matter of time till he
sees that I’m the one who’s always going to be there for him but… he never
seems to look at me that way." She trailed off. "Oh, P-chan, do you think…
do you think he… they…?"

 P-chan stiffened in her arms and shook his head vehemently.

She sighed. "I know what you feel. I don’t want to think it, too, but…" she
shook her head to clear it. The rain was falling in torrents again, thudding
on the roof. "I hate this weather! I really, really hate this weather. I’m
just so glad you’re here to keep me company. What do you say we call it a
night, P-chan?"

P-chan nodded, nuzzling her hand comfortingly.

"You’re so sweet…" she said, laughing again. "If you were a person, I think
I’d probably like you just as much as I like Ranchan."

>From the kitchen, the kettle whistled merrily, signaling that the hot water
was ready. She went to the kitchen carrying P-chan with her, turned off the
stove , then placed him on top of the kitchen counter by the sink as she
poured some hot water into a cup and prepared some tea. 

"Nothing like hot tea on a stormy autumn night, don’t you think?" she asked
him, sipping from the steaming cup. He nodded at her again. She grinned.
"You know… I really don’t feel stupid talking to you. It’s like I’m talking
to a person behind those eyes of yours." She looked into the pig’s eyes and
saw the understanding there, and suddenly she was reminded of how Ranchan’s
eyes always stayed the same whether he was in his male or female form. 

"I wonder…" She glanced at the half-filled kettle on the stove then back at
P-chan, who was looking at her warily.  Then she laughed again. "I swear,
with all the Jusyenko curses going around Nerima today,  I’m beginning to
get paranoid." She picked him up again and hugged him to her. "Let’s go to
bed. I have an early day tomorrow."

Against her, she almost thought she felt the pig sigh in relief.

*	*	*	* 

Ryoga, in his pig form, lay on Ukyo’s pillow, covered by the silken blanket
of her long brown hair. He could hear her even breathing beside him, and he
knew she slept easier because he was there. Outside, the rain had finally
stopped and the wind had slowed down to a whisper. The moon was out – the
silver light filtered through the window and shone on Ukyo’s peaceful face.
Her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks and her lips were turned up in a
slight smile.

When that man on the bicycle had splashed him with water earlier that
evening, he thought he would be up for another cold, miserable night in the
rain as a piglet. But fortune had smiled on him, and instead he found
Ucchan’s. And Ukyo.

It was like he was seeing her for the first time, when she had smiled at him
over the okonomiyaki, looking so very glad for his company. And he had felt
something inside him warm to find someone who knew what it felt like to be
alone, a kindred spirit, and – maybe – a new friend. 

I understand, he thought, nuzzling her cheek gently. Wandering the world as
often as he did, no one understood more. But for the first time since he had
been away from Akane, tonight P-chan fell into a sweet, dreamless sleep of
his own, grunting contentedly, glad to be out of the cold. 

- fin -

NOTE:
 
This is the first time I’ve worked with Ukyo or Ryoga – and definitely Ukuyo
and Ryoga together. It’s not meant to be an earthshaking kind of thing... I
don’t mean to make them fall in love or anything, I just mean to open
possibilities. So please, be gentle.
       {~._.~}      Claire Francisco
       (  Y  )      UP Diliman
      (:)~*~(:)     mailed with *hugs* and a :) enclosed 
     (-)~--~ (-)    Have a nice day!