Disclaimer:  All characters portrayed in this story are the property of
Rumiko Takahashi and co.

This story takes place after volume 38 of the manga.  It draws ideas
from both the anime and the manga.

C & C welcomed.  Flames not.

Ordinary

By

Donny Cheng

 "What is it Ranma?"  Yuka looked at Ranma questioningly.  Ranma was in
front of her with love in his eyes.

 Ranma did not say anything.  Instead, he scooped her off her feet and
gave her a passionate kiss.

 "Mmmhh!"  Yuka struggled in Ranma's grip.  However, there was not much
force in her resistance.  She slowly gave in to the heat of the moment.
Ranma finally let go after what seemed like an eternity to her.  Yuka
caught her breath and looked at Ranma adoringly.  "I love you, Ranma."

 Ranma returned her loving gaze with his own.  "I know and I lov..."

 "BEEEEEEEEEE..."

   * * * * *

 "Damn it!"  Yuka cried out as she quickly shut off the alarm clock.
Why did that always happen?  Every time her dreams get to the good part,
she woke up.  It's just not fair.  Ranma was about to tell her that he
loved her.  Yuka blushed at the thought of that ever happening.  Not
that it ever would happen.  She sighed to herself.  Her prince charming
probably didn't even know that she was alive.  She shook her head to
clear her thoughts.  Now was not the time for day dreaming.  She had to
get to school or she would be late to meet up with Akane and Sayuri.

   * * * * *

 "Snap out of it Yuka!"  Sayuri admonished her brown-haired friend.
Class hadn't even started at Yuka was already gawking at that boy
again.  She didn't have any self control at all.

 Yuka tore her gaze from Ranma to look at the black-haired Sayuri with
shame.  "Sorry."

 "Ranma is Akane's fianc�.  You have to get over that crush of yours.  I
don't think that it's very healthy to love your best friend's boy
friend."

 "I can't help it.  He's just so cute."  Yuka had been attracted to him
the first time she saw him.  She admired him for the way he stood up to
Kuno and how he flagrantly disregarded the school dress code.

 "He's also a conceited, pig-headed, sexist, jerk."

 "Yeah, I know."  Yuka did know of Ranma's lesser qualities.  It was
amazing how he still managed to gain so many suitors with so many bad
traits.  She had often seen how he treated the girls around him like
dirt.  However, every time she became disgusted with Ranma, he went and
did something noble.  Her feelings for him grew during those times.  She
first became infatuated with him during that match he had with the
Golden Pair.  She knew from Akane that he didn't know how to skate, yet
he stubbornly kept the fight going.  When he slammed in to the wall, her
heart cried out for him to stop.  She had been relieved to find out he
was fine after the match was over.  Her infatuation turned to love
during another fight.  Ranma had lost all of his strength and all of his
enemies started to pick on him.  The only way he could get his strength
back was with a shiatsu point shown on a single parchment.  He gave up
trying to get the parchment to save Akane.  That had been the most
selfless act she had ever seen in her sixteen years.  It was apparent to
anybody that knew Ranma, that his martial art was his life.  To take his
strength was to take his life.  Though, Ranma had done all of those
things for Akane's sake, Yuka could not help but feel that Ranma would
have done the same if it was anyone else.

   * * * * *

 Yuka pinched herself.  That hurt a lot.  It was not a dream.  Miss
Hinako had indeed partnered her up with for an English project.  Akane
was again mad at Ranma and didn't want to speak to him at all.
Therefore, Akane asked Sayuri to be her partner.  That left Yuka to take
Ranma.  YES!

 "I guess I get to be your partner, Yuka."  Ranma said to her as they
left class.

 Yuka nearly fainted with pleasure as she heard her name from Ranma's
lips.  "Uh... Yes, I guess you are.  So where do you want to work on our
project."

 "Oh!  I don't know.  How about we go to that fast food joint we went to
last time?"

 Yuka froze.  She could not believe that Ranma still remembered.  It had
happened a few months ago.

   * * * * *

**flashback**

 "Nabiki?"  Yuka asked the middle Tendo sister timidly.  Tendo Nabiki
struck terror in the hearts of everyone that went to Furinken High.

 "Oh!  It's you, Yuka.  What do you want?  I'm very busy at the
moment."  Nabiki's eyes were gleaming as she counted the money in her
hands.  Having Ranma as a fianc� was paying off better than she
expected.  She was getting thousands of yen for just one hour of Ranma's
time.  Kodatchi, Ukyo, and Shampoo all wanted some time with Ranma.  The
various sports clubs wanted some time with Ranma.  All Nabiki had to do
was rake in the cash.

 "I don't think it's right for you to take advantage of Ranma."  Yuka
braced herself for anything Nabiki might do in retaliation.  Every one
in Furinken gave wide berth to Nabiki and for good reason.  Akane's
sister had enough dirt on everybody to rule all of Furinken High with an
iron fist.

 However, Nabiki just raised her eyebrow at Yuka.  "If don't want Ranma
to be taken advantage of, you could hire him yourself.  Right now, the
going rate is 2000 yen an hour.  For you, it will be 2500 yen.  That
extra 500 yen is to keep this confidential from my sister.  I don't
think that she would be too happy to know that one of her best friends
is renting out her fianc�e."

 Yuka grumbled as she reached into her pockets and paid Nabiki 5000 yen
for two hours.  She was going to be broke for the next two weeks.

   * * * * *

 "Really, Ranma you don't have to take me anywhere.  I just didn't like
seeing someone being taken advantage of.  Now you have two hours to
yourself.  Don't waste it on me."  Yuka had told Ranma of her deal with
Nabiki.

 Ranma would not have any of that.  "No, it just wouldn't be right for
you to spend your money an not get anything in return.  I know Nabiki
charges a lot for my time.  I don't want you to get nothing out of
this."

 In the end, Ranma ended up taking her to a fast food joint to eat.  He
din't have very much money.  Despite this, Yuka felt the burger she had
was the best meal she had ever had in her life.  Food seemed to taste so
much better when eaten in the company of someone you like.  One thing
puzzled Yuka to no end.  She had seen Ranma lie and cheat in almost all
of his fights, yet he did nothing to stop Nabiki.  "Ranma, I wanted to
know why you just didn't follow Nabiki's orders.  She can't stop you
from not going with the person that paid for your services."

 Ranma shrugged.  "I don't want to turn out to be like my father.  Don't
get me wrong.  I love the old guy and he did raise me.  I just didn't
like his method of raising me.  He liked to sell me for food and then
secretly steal me back.  I feel sorry for all the people he tricked."

 Yuka looked at Ranma with sympathy.  What kind of father did Ranma
have?  She listened with rapt attention as Ranma continued to tell her
of the adventures that he's had.  "Wow, you've sure had an interesting
life, Ranma.  I sometimes envy you.  I've had such an ordinary life."

Ranma's face was expressionless as he looked at her.  "You know what?  I
wouldn't give up my lifestyle for anything in the world.  But sometimes
when I'm alone, I wish that I lived an ordinary life."  Ranma then got
up and excused himself.  "I've got to go.  I'm supposed to meet up with
the basketball club next.  See you later."

Yuka sat by herself as she thought of what Ranma said.  She had seen a
touch of sadness in his face.  When she felt lonely, she had many
friends and family members she could go to.  Growing up with only his
father and moving around all the time must have been very lonely for
Ranma.  Still, she could not stop herself from thinking how it would
feel to take part in Ranma's life for one day.

**end flashback**

   * * * * *

 "I get it!  'I' before 'E' except after 'C' and when sounding like
'A'.  So that means I spelled neighbor right!?"  Ranma was very
enthusiastic as he hugged Yuka and celebrated.

 Yuka thought that she would die in ecstasy as Ranma's arms wrapped
around her.  Ranma was a very outgoing person at times.  She was
disappointed as Ranma soon let go of her.  "Yes you did.  That also
means that we're finished with our English spelling project.  I think
Miss Hinako will be very pleased."

 Ranma stopped dance of joy as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck
rise.  A sense of danger filled the air.  The wall of the fast food
joint suddenly exploded.  When the dust cleared, Shampoo appeared and
she looked angry.

 "Shampoo heard that Ranma flirt with another woman.  It true.  Shampoo
not let another girl get Ranma."  Shampoo glared at Yuka.  She then
glomped on to Ranma.

 Yuka was envious of Shampoo.  She wished that could grab Ranma whenever
she wanted to.  "We're just classmates.  Ranma could NEVER be my
boyfriend."

 "What's that supposed to mean?"  Ranma asked indignantly.

 Yuka rolled her eyes.  That ego of his was always getting in the way.
However, inwardly Yuka smiled.  A person could misinterpret what Ranma
said.  Yuka could choose to think that Ranma was in fact saying that he
could be her boyfriend.

 Unfortunately, another person had chose to think that way.  A person
with a giant kick ass spatula to be specific.

* * * * *

Ukyo had passed by fast food joint and came in to see what all the
commotion was.  "Ranma!  Are you saying that you've got another girl
after you now?"

 Ranma finally shrugged Shampoo off him only to have Ukyo pound him with
her spatula.  This resulted in Shampoo fighting with Ukyo.  Soon word
spread throughout Nerima of Ranma's new 'fianc�e'.  Akane, Kodatchi,
Mousse, Kuno, and Ryoga soon arrived on the scene seeking blood.

 Akane could not believe her eyes as she looked at Yuka.  "Yuka!?
You're Ranma's new fianc�e?"

 Yuka could only shrug her shoulders meekly.  Fortunately, Akane was
very understanding.

 "That jerk probably said that he would take care of you or something.
How many times do I have to tell him that he can't go around making
stupid promises?  I'm sorry Ranma dragged you in to this.  I'm sure we
can get this stupid fianc�e mess cleared up."  With that said, Akane
then joined the melee that was taking place.

 Ranma cursed himself.  You say one wrong thing and people jump at it.
Life just wasn't fair.  Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Yuka
worried face.  The poor girl.  She must have been scared out of her
mind.  Ranma decided that he had to save her.  He quickly escaped from
the seven people that were after his hide and went to Yuka.  He had to
get her to safety.

 Yuka looked at Ranma worriedly.  She hoped that he didn't get hurt over
her.  She felt herself swept off her feet as Ranma came out of nowhere
and grabbed her.

 "Don't be scared.  I'll bring you to a safe place."  Ranma quickly
vaulted away with the other in pursuit.

 Idiot.  Boy, Ranma was so thick headed.  The most dangerous place to be
was in Ranma's arms with so many crazed fighters around.  Yuka laughed
silently at the whole situation.  Her dreams of Ranma holding her in his
arms were coming true.  She could not believe how this could have
happened.  She decided to just enjoy the moment and sunk deeper into
Ranma's arms.

   * * * * *

 Akane was apologetic the next day.  "Sorry, Yuka.  I didn't mean for
you to get involved in the fight."

 "That's okay, Akane.  I wasn't hurt too much."  The fight had ended
yesterday, when Yuka had got hurt.  Ranma had been carrying her when he
suddenly slipped off the roof of the house he was running on.  Yuka
ended up falling with him.  Ranma twisted his body so that he would take
the brunt of the damage.  He was so sweet.  Anyway, the rest of the
Nerima gang had the decency to look shamed at getting a non-martial
artist hurt in one of their squabbles.  Well, everyone except Kuno and
Kodatchi.

 "I'm also sorry for everybody thinking you're Ranma's fianc�e now."
Word had spread quickly of Yuka and Ranma's 'engagement'.  It would be
impossible for Yuka to get a boyfriend now with a well-known martial
artist as her fianc�e.  "I'm sure everybody will forget all about that
in a few weeks."

 "I said it's okay Akane.  Don't worry, I'll be able to handle it."
Yuka felt guilty at not telling Akane the whole truth.  She didn't tell
her of how the whole thing had started.  In truth, Yuka was very happy
at this turn of events.  At least now, her life was not so ordinary.

   * * * * *

The End. (maybe)