Hullo, hullo again.  I'm just firing these out like crazy.

<insert standard disclaimer here>

This isn't meant to infringe on any copyrights regarding Ranma or any
associated characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.  Please don't sue.

C&C is more than welcome.  Send C&C and requests for missing parts to me
or post for a prompt reply.  I always like hearing from people anyway.

Missing parts can be found at:
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/fanfix.html

Happy reading!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Eleven

	"I can't believe that jerk!  That jackass!  I was dripping all
over him and he didn't notice!"
	Kan watched as Ukyou savagely beat the okonomiyaki she was
grilling.  She obviously was throwing herself into her work.  It was
rather painful to watch.  Ukyou kept grumbling as she prepared several
okonomiyaki.
	"Trouble with Ranma again?"
	Ukyou glared at him.
	"It's none of your business."
	"You don't want to talk about it?"
	"No." she shot out.
	"It'll make you feel better."
	"I don't want to talk about it." she spat.
	Ukyou glared at him, but continued talking regardless.
	"Well, I was hoping Ran-chan would take me out on a date today.  I
was practically begging.  I was even stooping as low as using Shampoo's
tactics!"
	"And it didn't work."
	"No!  Nothing works."
	"Don't you think that Ranma would ask you out on a date when he's
ready?"
	Ukyou glared at Ken again and shook a spatula at him furiously.
	"Don't give me that kind of crap!  You don't know Ran-chan like I
do!  He's never ready to say anything.  He's never ready to do anything
except fight or run.  It makes me so furious!"
	"But you like him anyway."
	"He's my fianc.  I'll always love him." Ukyou replied sullenly.
"I just wish he loved me back, that's all.  I know he does, but why
doesn't he ever say it?"
	"Does he have to?"
	"Have to what?"
	Ken chuckled.
	"Say that he loves you.  If you know he does, then why does he
have to say it?"
	"You don't know how different it is to know it and not hear it,
than to know it and hear it.  I don't think you'll understand."
	Ken winced.  I know a lot more than you might think, he thought.
	"Haven't we gone over this already?"
	"What do you mean?"
	"If you stop trying to get him to marry you, maybe he'll feel more
comfortable about talking about those things with you.  It seems to me
like you're forcing yourself on him."  Smart move big guy, he thought to
himself sarcastically.
	Ukyou clenched a fist.  She grit her teeth.
	"What's that supposed to mean?" she said venomously.
	Ken raised his hands defensively.
	"Take it easy, I'm just trying to be honest!  If you don't want to
talk about it-"
	"I don't want to talk about it!  I'm sick of your dumb advice.  I
listen to you because you act like a dog someone just kicked.  You mope
around all the time and complain about how marked you are as a person.
Other people have problems that are a lot worse than yours, so suck it up
a deal with it!  It's not like you're the only one who's lost some family.
Everyone does eventually.  Ran-chan didn't have the luxury of seeing his
mother for ten years!  At least you got to speak to yours while you were a
kid.
"I'm sick of you and your stupid advice.  The only thing your dumb advice
has gotten me is a lot of dead ends with Ran-chan; so butt out.  It's none
of your business.  It never was to begin with.  When you get a fiance or a
love life, then you can talk!"
	Ken stood coldly as Ukyou finished yelling.  An impassive stoic
mask passed over his visage.  Ukyou finished glaring and yelling at him,
heaving from the exertion.  Her fists were balled up and the spatula she
was gripping was distorted at the base from her grip.  Ken simply took the
pad he had in his hand and slid it quietly on the countertop.  He cast a
glance over his shoulder, lined out the orders from emptying tables and
calmly flipped the pencil onto the countertop.
	"One special.  No beef." he said flatly, and calmly walked to the
back room.
	Ukyou closed her eyes and took several deep breaths.  She heard
the faucet in the back flip on.  The running water filling the sink was
only noise other than the occasional crackle from the grill.  She slowly
opened her eyes, dutifully flipped the okonomiyaki over to keep it from
burning and turned around.  Tears were starting to fall and Ukyou quickly
wiped them away before people could see them.
	Several women in the restaurant sat staring.  Most of the men in
the restaurant simply ignored it.  Those that hadn't ordered simply left
their tables.  People who did quickly ate their meal, left their money and
exited quietly.  Silence pervaded the restaurant.  Order slowly restored
itself as new customers entered, oblivious to what had happened.  Things
worked their way back to normal, and Ukyou tried to ignore what had
happened as best she could.  She had a restaurant to manage after all.
	Ken didn't bother leaving the back room all day, save for the
occasional exit to supply the grill with toppings and batter; but those
things he simply carried out, calmly placed by the grill and left without
making eye contact.  Ukyou knew what she had said had struck a nerve.  It
didn't make her feel any better knowing that she felt that Ken had started
the ordeal.  It left a fairly unpleasant taste in her mouth and an
irritated sensation in her stomach.  It simply didn't feel right.  I guess
it's time I worked things out, she mused.
	When she walked into the back room, Ken was filling a small pail
with water and pulling two small dishrags from the rack they were sitting
on.  He poured a small amount of soap into the filling pail and shut off
the water.  Ukyou looked about and saw the entire place was spotless, and
all the dishes washed.  Ken cast a glance over his shoulder and simply
turned back to what he was doing.  He simply picked up the pail, slung
both rags over his shoulder and walked out of the room, past Ukyou.  Ukyou
stood there for a moment, sighed and walked to the tables where he was
starting to wipe down the tables.  She watched as he methodically cleaned
each of the tables in turn, wiping in slow circular motions from the
inside out.  The entire time she watched, Ken kept his back to her and
completely ignored her presence.  It was unnerving.
	"Ken?" she asked quietly.
	No response.  Ukyou walked closer.
	"Ken?  Can I talk to you?"
	Still no response.  It was starting to become annoying.
	"Look, Ken, I just want to talk to you."
	"You are." was the flat response.  It was cold and monotone.
	Ukyou winced.  Maybe I deserve that, she thought.
	"Look, can we talk?"
	"There's nothing to talk about, and I'm not paid to dawdle.  If
you'll excuse me, I have responsibilities to take care of before I finish
my job for the evening."
	Ukyou bit her lower lip.  This wasn't what she expected, and it
wasn't what Nodoka probably meant by being there for him.
	"Fine.  Just hear me out.  I just want to apologize for yelling at
you today during lunch.  It was uncalled for."  There.  She'd done it.
Now it was up to Ken to do his part.  Ukyou sighed, and waited for him to
respond.  
	Nothing happened.  Ken simply kept washing the last of the tables
and tossed the wet rag into the pail before looking at the tables and
wiping them up with the dry rag.  He took the pail and the rag back.
Ukyou simply watched him go.  When he came out he turned off the light in
the back room and walked over to the grill.
	"I took care of that already." Ukyou said as she walked over to
him.
	Ken simply looked at her with an expressionless face.  He stood
looking at her for a moment.  Ukyou met his gaze with hers.  After a
moment he simply turned and walked up the stairs.  Ukyou grit her teeth
and followed.  He wasn't making it easy.
	"You're not making this easy." She called to him as he walked up
the stairs.  He passed the second level and made his way towards the door
to the roof.  Ukyou simply followed.
	"You could say something at least.  Let me know you're alive,
something like that."
	"I'm going to be taking the practice dummy to the Tendo dojo."
	It wasn't what Ukyou expected.  It was something, but not what she
wanted.  Ukyou simply walked after him and watched as he walked to the
dummy, lifted the trunk from the wooden pedestal and took the wooden arms
off of it.  Ken put the trunk on the ground next to the pedestal and
arranged the wooden arms in a neat pile next to everything else.  She
followed him again when he walked back down to his room to get a cloth
sack.
	"Can't you at least acknowledge the fact that I apologized?  I had
to choke down some pride to apologize."
	Ken simply turned to her slowly.  A blank expression was on his
face again.  
	"You needn't choke down any pride on my account.  If you want me
to tell you that I heard you apologize, then I heard you apologize.  If
you're looking to make things better, then I suggest you do something
else."
	Ukyou frowned.
	"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she shot out.
	Ken frowned.  The first expression since she yelled at him.  It
wasn't a good sign.
	"It means that apologizing for yelling at me is one thing.  Trying
to amend things between us is a different thing."
	"Between us?  What kind of statement is that?  We're not engaged,
the last time I checked."
	Ken grit his teeth and closed his eyes.
	"No we're not engaged," he forced through is teeth, "but I thought
we were friends.  I thought we were good friends."  Ken opened his eyes.
It looked like he was close to tears.  "I put a lot of trust in you to
look at my situation objectively; to look at it with a measure of
compassion rather than judgement.  I put a lot of trust and faith into
you, Ukyou.  After what I heard go through your lips, I feel like I lost
something I really valued."
	Ukyou felt a hole suddenly appear in her chest.  She looked down
and away.  No hole there, but she felt it all the same.
	"Look, I'm really sorry." She said quietly.
	"Sorry for what?  For yelling at me?  For making a fool out of me
in the restaurant?  Those things are completely irrelevant.  I thought I
had something that came from here." He said as he put a gentle finger on
Ukyou's chest.  "I'm not the smartest guy in the world.  I'm a pretty
dense guy, and I'll admit it.  There are times when I think I'm pretty
smart.  Times like when I thought I made a friend in this really nice
woman I met.  She was absolutely beautiful.  I thought that I must have
been a pretty smart guy to do that."  Ken laughed bitterly.  "I was just
fooling myself.  I'm still the idiot I was when I first picked up my
sword.  It's what I get for thinking I was smart to begin with.  You
shouldn't feel sorry at all, Ukyou.  I'm the jackass that feels sorry."
	Ukyou didn't follow him as he walked around her and back up the
stairs to the roof.  She listened as he put things into the sack, hefted
the dummy on his back and leaped off into the night.

	Ranma watched as Ken walked up to the dojo.  The wooden dummy was
on his back and he had a bag tied around his waist.  He ran out to greet
his friend and help with the load.
	"So this is the dummy?" he called out to Ken eagerly.
	Ranma saw a sad look pass through Ken's eyes briefly.  Ken gave a
bitter laugh.
	"I'd say I'm the dummy." he said quietly.
	"Hunh?"
	"Nothing." Ken quickly amended with a forced smile.  "Just talking
to myself.  I'll just set this up in the dojo in one of the corners.  You
sure this is okay?"
	Ranma nodded.
	"Sure thing.  I checked it out with Akane's dad.  He said it's
fine.  He's not one to pass up free gifts." Ranma said with a laugh.
	Ken  simply walked into the dojo and put his things down.  Ranma
followed and helped to set the dummy back up.
	"So what's wrong?"
	Ken looked at Ranma incredulously.
	"What's wrong?  Nothing's wrong.  Whatever gave you that idea?"
	Ranma smiled.
	"Don't tell me that.  Akane gives me that routine all the time.
Trust me, after living with a person who's as mute about her feelings as a
rock you pick up things."
	"Nothing's wrong."
	"Sure, Ken.  I believe you."
	The two of them put the arms into the trunk of the dummy and stood
back.  A moment of silence passed between the two of them.
	"You know, my mom's here." Ranma finally said.
	"Really?"
	"Yeah.  She wants to talk to you.  Why don't you head in?  I want
to try this sucker out."
	Ken laughed.
	"Blow yourself away." Ken said as he walked towards the house.
	When he walked indoors, both families were sitting at the table.
Nodoka smiled as she saw him enter.
	"We were just talking about you, Ken.  Why don't you pull up a
seat?"
	Ken smiled and bowed slightly.  Nabiki patted a seat next to her
and smiled.  Ken rolled his eyes and walked over to sit next to her.
	"As you know, I had some business to attend to and was unable to
help you with your meditating lessons yesterday evening." Nodoka said.
	Ken nodded.
	"That particular business," Nodoka continued, "concerned you in
particular, Ken.  I spoke to my husband as well as the Tendo household.  I
feel that your lack of a supporting family has caused you enough stress
and pain.  I believe that it will help you during your stay here to
consider myself and Ranma's father your surrogate parents."  Nodoka
finished with a motherly smile.
	Ken blinked.
	"You mean, you want to adopt me?" he asked quietly.
	"Yes. Well, an adoption of sorts.  It really isn't legally
binding, but it's as formal as you could possibly want." Nodoka said with
a smile.
	"So I get a new mother and father?" Ken asked with a smile.
	"We realize it isn't exactly the same, but I felt it would be best
if you had parental guidance and a mother you could turn to in times of
need."
	Ken simply looked into space.  He laughed quietly and smiled.
Kasumi looked at him with her usual happy look.  Akane and Nabiki smiled
at him.  Nodoka, Genma, and Sound simply looked on approvingly.
	"I have no idea what to say.  This is simply overwhelming."
	"Take your time if you need it.  We can wait for your decision."
	Ken laughed as he rose from his seat.  He looked about the table
before settling his gaze at Nodoka and Genma sitting next to each other.
Genma simply looked satisfied and Nodoka had a motherly smile.  As he
walked around the shogi board towards the door to the yard, he paused and
leaned against the doorframe.
	"You know, I never thought I get anything for losing everything I
ever had." Ken said wistfully.  "Sometimes, I think about how I've led my
life and I can think of a few things I regret.  I really do miss my
family.  I don't think anything can replace that.  I've always wanted my
parents back."
	Nodoka frowned slightly but nodded.
	"I understand." she said regretfully.  She had looked forward to
having another son of sorts.
	"Thanks, Mom." Ken said with a smile.
	It took a while for the words to register in Nodoka's mind, but
when they did she smiled broadly.
	"But I don't do arranged marriages." Ken continued with an impish
grin.  "So please don't engage me to one of the Tendo sisters.  I like
them all a lot, but I don't think it'd be appropriate."
	Genma's eyes opened wide as he heard Ken speak.  Kasumi looked
like she'd been scandalized and Nabiki blushed.  Soun glared at Genma, and
Nodoka simply laughed aloud with Akane.  Ken simply walked back to the
dojo with a broad smile.
	When Ken walked into the dojo, he saw Ranma sitting in the middle
of the dojo leaning on his hands across from Ukyou.  She had her back to
the door, and it sounded like she was crying.  Ranma looked up to see him
walk in and raised an eyebrow.  Ken simply drew a finger across his neck.
Ranma simply turned back to Ukyou.  Ken quietly walked up behind Ukyou.
	"And then he just left." she said quietly.  "That's all.  I
thought I'd come here to see if there was a chance I could talk to him."
	"About what?" Ken asked as he sat down behind her.
	Ukyou whirled about to face him.  It looked like she'd been
crying.  Ken couldn't tell if it had been before or after he'd left.  He
really didn't care.
	"You were listening." she said, a hint of accusation in her voice.
	"I just walked in.  I had a rather interesting conversation with
Ranma's mother, or should I say, 'Mom.'"
	Ranma fell over in surprise.  He slowly got to his feet and walked
around to stand next to Ken.
	"So you took Mom up on the offer?"
	Ken smiled.
	"Yeah.  It's nice to have a family, even if it is adopted."
	Ranma laughed.
	"I've never had a brother before.  This should be interesting." He
said as he walked to the door.  "I guess I should leave you two alone, or
Akane'll get mad.  You know how she is when she sees me with other girls."
he called over his shoulder.
	Ken laughed and watched him leave.  When Ranma exited the dojo he
simply sprawled out onto the hardwood floor.
	"So you've got a family now?" Ukyou asked quietly.
	"Yup.  It feels really good.  It really does.  I'm sure you know
the feeling."
	Ukyou laughed nervously.
	"I guess so." she replied.
	A moment of silence seemed to stretch into an eternity.
	"It still doesn't feel right, you know." Ken finally said as he
sat up.
	Ukyou sniffed and looked over to him curiously.
	"I thought you said you got a family.  That isn't good enough for
you?" Ukyou said.
	Ken could tell she was bitter about the apology.
	"No.  It's not.  I'm still missing something, he said as he looked
out the door.
	"If it's your sword, it's still in your room."
	Ken laughed.
	"That wasn't what I was talking about."
	"So what are you talking about?" Ukyou asked quietly.
	"I'm missing a friend.  The really good sort of friend." Ken
replied with a smile as he turned to look at her evenly.
	Ukyou's heart soared.
	"I really shouldn't have lashed out at you like that.  I guess
it's my turn to apologize.  I still didn't like the way you decided to
vent by chewing me out, but that's a different issue.  I can't really be
there to help you if I'm not there to begin with." he said sheepishly.
	Ukyou had a familiar feeling start from her stomach again.  It
didn't feel bad at all.  In fact, it felt rather pleasant.  It made her
feel slightly giddy.  She smiled and laughed, and almost started crying
again.  She felt a hundred different impulses to say or do things.  She
settled on following one.  Ken was surprised when Ukyou scooted over to
give him a big hug, but it wasn't an unpleasant one at all.  It made
things come to an appropriate end for his day.

	"You know, it's really weird that Ukyou came to talk about Ken.
She's never done it before.  Usually, I'm the one coming to her to talk
about you."
	Akane growled and swung a fist out at Ranma.  He laughed and moved
out of the way, taking her fist and fluidly using her momentum to guide
her into an outstretched position on the floor.  He pinned her there,
despite her very vocal protests.  Ranma laughed and started tickling her.
At first Akane simply growled and objected, but soon gave way to the
laughing fit Ranma had started.  In the end they both sat there, Akane
leaning against Ranma s they looked out the door of the dojo towards the
koi pond.
	"Why is that so strange?" she asked after a few moments of
silence.
	"Well, like I said, I'm the one that usually does the talking.  I
always go there when I've got a problem."
	"You mean problems with me." Akane corrected accusingly.
	"Hey!  It's not like that!" Ranma said defensively.  He
instinctively drew his arms around Akane tightly.
	"So what's it like?"
	"Well," Ranma replied, "Ukyou just listens to me when I say that
things don't feel right, or when I feel like an idiot about something I've
said or done."
	"So why don't you tell me that?"
	"Because you're to busy pounding my head in." Ranma replied with a
chuckle.
	Akane colored and deflated at the truth of the statement.
	"So what do you make of it?" she asked.
	"I have no idea."
	"You think she likes him?"
	Ranma nodded.
	"Pretty sure." He replied.  "I'm pretty sure that they both like
each other a lot."
	"But she is engaged to you.  Ken always looks that way when he
sees you with her and she gets pretty friendly with you."
	"I guess I should make up my mind soon."
	"You're going to have to eventually.  If you don't, everyone else
will try to."
	"You know how much I hate it when that happens." Ranma replied
bitterly.
	Akane snuggled closer to comfort him.
	"I know."
	They sat in silence listening to the sounds of the crickets
chirping and the quiet buzzing from the lights.

	Life was going well for a change, at least in Ken's opinion.  The
past two weeks or so had been pleasant and fulfilling.  Things were going
so well that he had lost track of his time in Nerima since his arrival.
The meditating lessons he'd been taking with his new surrogate mother were
going well.  He was finally learning more self control over his emotions
and over parts of his life he didn't feel comfortable talking about.  Only
Nodoka had a true understanding of the situation and what he wanted to
control after his explanation.  It was just like having a mother again.
Sparring every morning with Ranma helped keep his skills up, even though
he beat Ranma a fair number of times.
	Even school was turning out well.  His initial blunder with
Hinako-sensei was quickly forgotten, and he excelled in his classes.
Granted, he'd already passed classes in math and science, but it didn't
hurt to review.  History wasn't a class he was fond of, but he studied
hard with Ukyou, Ranma, and Akane and all of them did well.  Of course,
doing well being a relative term.  Ken wondered just how Ranma could study
with them and then simply pass by the skin of his teeth.
	Ken laughed at the thought.  Hours spent studying after closing
hours and during weekends seemed to disappear for Ranma, based on his
tests.  Of course, Akane assured him that his marks were well above
average in that particular subject.  Even Nodoka had been pleased at the
progress, although she was still disappointed at the marks.  
	Yes, life is going well again, Ken decided.  Even feelings between
him and Ukyou seemed to begin developing.  Ken smiled at the recollection
of the time they spent together talking,  walking about, or even shopping
for things.  Those times had increased, and they both enjoyed the presence
of one another immensely.  Ukyou still felt strongly about Ranma, that Ken
would not deny, but there was an increasing sense of intimacy with Ukyou
that he could detect.
	Ukyou's voice broke him out of his reverie.
	"Hurry up.  We have to get to the restaurant on time if we want to
get those seats we reserved."
	Ken turned from his seat at the restaurant counter to see Ukyou
walking down the stairs in a dress.
	"So I merit a dress now?"
	Ukyou blushed.
	"Look, silly, we made reservations at a nice restaurant.  I've
always wanted to go there and the people I've seen walk in there aren't
wearing jeans and a shirt.  It's a fairly formal place."
	"That's an awfully expensive looking dress.  Did you buy it for
the occasion?" Ken asked with a grin.
	Ukyou playfully punched his arm.
	"It's not like were going on a date."  She'd used that excuse a
hundred times before.  "I just wanted to see the place.  I didn't want to
buy a new dress, so I decided to borrow one from Nabiki."
	"I see."
	"What?  No compliment?" Ukyou asked expectantly.  She smiled
broadly.
	Ken laughed.
	"Ukyou, you look absolutely radiant.  I'm blinded, just looking at
you."
	"Gee, thanks." Ukyou said sarcastically.
	"You'd have to be blind and a complete idiot not to notice you
wearing that dress."
	Ukyou blushed.
	"I guess that means I'm a lucky guy." he added.
	"Why's that?"
	"I get to look at the all single sods out there and smile that
smile that says, 'I've got this beautiful woman here for company, who've
you got?'"
	Ukyou laughed.
	"How do you know I'm not just showing off my waiter?" she asked.
Ukyou looked over Ken in his silk shirt and pants.  The vertical stripes
on the shirt seemed to make him appear leaner, and more chiseled in
appearance.  The black slacks he wore went well with the tan shirt.  The
black vest he wore added style to the whole ensemble.  Ukyou was pleased
with the clothes Nabiki had chosen for Ken.  She would be flaunting him to
all the women she'd see at the restaurant.  Ukyou decided that Ken looked
nice in his clothes - very nice indeed.
	"Let's go." Ken said simply, and offered his arm.  Ukyou laughed
and took him up on his offer.  It was going to be a fun night out.

	"You know, I can't believe you did that."
	Ukyou laughed as she shook out her hand.
	"He made a pretty blatant pass at me when we were leaving.  I
wasn't about to let him to that and get away with it."
	"I was hoping to knock his lights out." Ken said with a smile.
	"Beat you to it, Sugar."
	They both laughed out loud.  As their mirth died down, they
continued walking back to the restaurant in silence, gazing about, but
mostly at the stars above.  She held her hand in the crook of his elbow.
It felt fitting and comforting there as if it were completely natural,
just like the dinner.  Dinner at the posh restaurant had gone along fairly
smoothly save for two occasions.  Ukyou had protested a little too loudly
when the host at the door asked Ken if "he and his lovely wife would like
a more private booth."  Women began casting sidelong glances at Ken while
men were openly ogling at her.  It was very uncomfortable for a while.
Things seemed to go smoothly until a waiter passing them on their way out
had made a blatant pass at Ukyou, and even goosed her.  She was furious,
to say the least.  Ken was about the blast the waiter, but Ukyou beat him
to it.  When they left, the waiter had a broken nose.
	Ukyou looked over to her companion as they walked down the quiet
street towards home.  Ken looked at ease and happy, an increasing
occurrence, and she had to admit that it made her feel good knowing that
he was feeling that way.  The past few weeks had seen them spending more
and more time together in light of Ranma and Akane beginning to spend more
time together as well.  It seemed to be a natural response for Ukyou.  She
couldn't spend more time with Ranma, so she spent time with the person
that was as close to Ranma as she could find.  Then again, she mused,
maybe Ken's more than just a substitute Ranma for me.  Could Akane be
right after all, she asked herself.
	She thought back to the conversation she had with Akane when Ken
had just arrived.
	"It's just like I'm seeing you and Ranma together." Akane had
remarked.
	It rang in her mind as they walked together.  It seemed so odd to
hear someone say that, to even think it to herself; but the more she
thought about it, the more comfortable it became.  They had spent so much
time together as friends that a sort of attraction between them developed
naturally.  Ukyou found it very flattering, but also realized that it was
also going to make things complicated.  She spent a lot of time repressing
it; but after the dinner and the peaceful walk back, the thought returned;
and it seemed to fit so well as they made their way back under the stars.
	"Ukyou?"
	Ken's voice suddenly brought her back to Earth, and her foot hit a
curb.  Strong arms reached out instantly to catch her as she tried to
right herself.  She found herself being supported around the waist and a
hand holding hers.  She looked up and saw genuine concern in Ken's face.
She smiled to set him at ease.  
"I was just thinking." she replied quietly.
	Ken returned the warm smile.  It seemed to lift Ukyou's heart and
it beat faster.
	"You seemed a little lost.  I hope you're okay.  Did you twist
your ankle?"
	Ukyou looked down at the high heels she was wearing.  She smiled
slightly as a mischievous thought crossed her mind.
	"I don't know.  It feels a little odd." She said plaintively.
	Suddenly she found herself lifted off her feet.
	"It's a good thing we're right at the door.  I'll carry you in."
	Ukyou smiled.  It worked exactly the way she thought it would.
Ken acted the same way Ranma would have.  She closed her eyes and reveled
in the secure feeling of being in his arms.  She thoroughly enjoyed the
ride to her room.

	"Ranma, I think it is time you made your decision."
	Ranma looked up from the manga he was reading.  His mother had
opened the door and was standing in the doorway.  She walked into the
center of the room and kneeled in front of her son.
	"Ranma, it is very important to me that you marry as soon as
possible.  I have stood by idly and watched as all of your fiances have
grown closer and closer to you.  I believe that continuing to do so will
only aggravate the problem."
	Ranma groaned and rolled his eyes.
	"I'll make my decision when I'm good and ready, Mom.  I've gone
over this a hundred times with you before.  What's wrong with waiting?
You know I hate breaking this kind of news to them."
	Nodoka smiled knowingly.
	"But you've already chosen." She replied.
	Ranma blanched.
	"How would you know if I've chosen or not?  As far as I know, I
haven't yet."
	Nodoka continued to smile.
	"I spoke to Nabiki," she said, "and she had some very interesting
news to report concerning your whereabouts last night.  In fact, it was
rather coincidental that you both were gone at the same time last night."
	The blood drained from Ranma's face.
	"You told me you were going out to study with some friends last
night.  I was very impressed by it.  Akane left shortly afterwards saying
that she was going to be heading to the mall to meet some friends.  I
asked why she wasn't going to go study with you since you'd left already.
She was rather nervous at the question.  She told me that she was going to
be heading there later.  I was a little curious and asked Nabiki what she
knew."
	Ranma studied the floor intensely.
	"It seems she heard about a certain pair of people going to an ice
cream shop downtown after having dinner.  They seemed to look a great deal
like you and Akane from what she told me.
	Since my interest had been peaked, I called your friends.  You
weren't there.  I spoke to Akane's friends.  They weren't sure what I was
talking about.  After I was told that calls came from both you and Akane
from your respective places, I decided to find out what was going on.  I
simply waited at great length for you to come home in a suitable place.
Very late last night the two of you came home.  I found the entire
exchange at the door very interesting."
	Ranma broke and simply let his head fall to the floor with a loud
thud.
	"So you're going to make me choose now?"
	"Yes.  I think it is time you did so."
	"So you were spying on me."
	"I was only showing my concern for your well being."
	"You realize things are going to become very confusing."
	"Perhaps, but better now than later.  What were you planning on
doing?  Simply waiting it all out?" Nodoka admonished.
	"We thought we could just ease into things.  Let Shampoo know
about it, then let some rumors go around, wait for them to disappear and
then tell someone else.  Let it all out slow so people think they know,
but won't until we tell them."
	"I think we should start with Ukyou Kounji.  She seems to be the
most reasonable of your fiances, and I think she would be the best to
speak to first."
	"Yes, mother."
	Ranma waited for his mother to leave.  She didn't.  He looked at
her for a moment before she cleared her throat.  Ranma sighed and got up
to go to the phone.  Nodoka simply followed him the entire time.
	
	"So then he carried you to your room?"
	Ukyou smiled and slowly nodded.
	"Yup.  Ken-chan fell for it completely."
	Akane raised and eyebrow.
	"Since when did you start calling him Ken-chan?"
	Ukyou blushed.
	"It's not like it means anything." she quickly said defensively.
	Akane laughed.
	"Don't worry.  Your secret's safe with me."
	"What are you talking about?" Ukyou demanded.
	Akane simply laughed harder, and wiped away tears.
	"Forget it, Ukyou." Akane finally managed to say.
	Both girls fell silent as they continued eating.  As they sat
quietly working away at their lunch, Ukyou couldn't help but wonder why
she was at the Tendo's residence.  Ranma had called her over to talk.  It
wasn't very like him to do so, but she wouldn't pass up the opportunity to
see him again.  Even though she was spending a increasing amount of time
with Ken, it didn't mean she didn't love Ranma any less.  In fact, it
seemed to her that the more time she spent with Ken, the more she ended up
wanting to see Ranma.
	"Yo!  Ucchan!"
	Ukyou looked up from her meal at the familiar voice.  She saw
Ranma walking over to the table overlooking the yard.  Nodoka was
accompanying her son, and she looked slightly ill at ease.  Ukyou looked
back to Ranma.  He looked cheerful, but it seemed forced.  She quickly
turned back to Akane.
	"Are you sure you don't know what they want to talk to me about."
	"Ukyou, I swear I have no idea.  Ranma told me he and his mother
wanted to talk to me today as well."
	Ukyou shrugged and looked over to the Saotomes.  Nodoka kneeled at
the table and Ranma next to her.  Both were opposite Ukyou.
	"Akane, will you please excuse us?" Nodoka asked.
	Akane looked inquisitively at Ranma who simply ignored her.  She
shrugged and left the table.  Nodoka waited for her to leave before
addressing Ukyou.
	"I believe it is time for my son to make his intentions clear.  He
has dragged out this issue of marriage for long enough.  I have spoken to
him and it is time he made his decision."
	Ukyou felt a sense of imminent doom start from the pit of her
stomach.  A sour taste filled her mouth.
	"Ucchan, I think it's time we got things cleared up." Ranma
started.
	"Wh-what do you mean?" Ukyou stammered.
	"Perhaps we should start with the dowry." Nodoka interjected.
	Ukyou nodded nervously.
	"I think we all know the situation regarding the dowry and
engagement." Nodoka continued.  "My husband was irresponsible and
dishonorable in engaging you to Ranma, taking the dowry and then leaving.
I see that while it would be easy to replace such a dowry, even given
adjustments for value and inflation, the damage in addition to the dowry
is inconceivable."
	Ukyou nodded enthusiastically.
	"But all that could be easily forgotten if I get married to
Ranma." she added hopefully.  Ukyou cast an imploring look to Ranma, who
quickly looked away nervously.
	"I do not think that will be possible." Nodoka replied quietly.
"My husband and I will try to recompense you for the lost dowry.  If it
requires my husband working for you, then that is what will be done, but
this is an issue that will be resolved outside of the issue of
engagements."
	"You've picked, haven't you, Ranma?" Ukyou asked quietly.
	"Yeah.  I guess I did end up picking." he replied quietly.  
A long silence passed between them.  Ranma nervously looked up from his
study of the table to see Ukyou on the verge of tears.  He could see the
liquid sadness welling up and about to burst the self-control she had
left.  Ukyou quickly turned her head away, and tried to mute a sob.
Nodoka rose from her seat and put a gentle hand on Ranma's shoulder.
Ranma looked at his mother and then back to Ukyou.  It was all up to him.
His mother could only take care of the dowry issue.  Breaking Ukyou's
heart was his matter.  He didn't like it at all.
	"Ukyou, I'm sorry."
	"Don't be." she whispered hoarsely.
	"Ukyou-"
	She cut him off with a raised hand.
	"I think I knew who you'd chosen already.  I knew when the wedding
leaked out.  I knew when you rescued Akane and came back from the springs.
I knew from the beginning.  I was an idiot to think I had a chance."
	Ranma reached out to comfort her.  Ukyou recoiled.
	"No, don't.  Please don't.  This is hard enough as it is.  I
should have forgotten everything, but you were everything I had left.
After you left with the cart, father lost everything.  I lost everything.
I followed you thinking I could get it all back again."  Ukyou turned to
look Ranma straight in the eyes.  There was an almost incoherent look to
them.
	"For a while I thought I did have everything again.  At least,
almost." she continued quietly.  "I guess I have to-"  A choked sob cut
her off.  "I have to lose everything again." she finished before breaking
down completely.
	"Ukyou, I wish there was another way.  I'm really sorry.  I wish
you knew how sorry I am."
	Ukyou simply stood up, forced herself to stop crying and
straightened herself up.  She calmly walked towards the doors to let
herself out.  On her way to the front door, she passed Akane in the living
room.  Ukyou looked at her evenly.
	"You won.  I won't get in your way anymore." she said quietly,
almost apologetically.
	Akane simply stared as Ukyou walked out the door.  She heard
Ukyou's choked sobs die in the distance.  A hand was gently placed on her
shoulder.  Akane turned to look up at Ranma's mother who smiled the same
regretful smile Akane felt inside.  Nodoka could feel the loss, as well as
the satisfaction of finally gaining a daughter.  Nodoka looked at Akane
before walking back to the room where Ranma sat staring into space
vacantly.  
A kind of bittersweet joy filled Akane's heart.  Ukyou was no longer one
of Ranma's fiances.  That left Shampoo and herself, if Ranma ever counted
Kodachi.  Akane knew what the outcome would be.  There was a kind of
joyous triumph in the matter, but after watching Ukyou leave, it was as if
there was a grand loss that went with it.  She gathered her wits and her
courage and simply walked into the room where Ranma was waiting with his
mother.

	Ken watched as Ukyou made her way into the restaurant.  Three
customers were seated and finishing their meal when Ukyou walked in.  She
looked like a mess.  Her eyes were puffy, her hair seemed to hang limply
from her skull, and she was pale.  As Ukyou opened the door, she faltered
slightly before simply entering and walking to the stairs to her room.
Ken could hear the telltale sniffling that told him what must have
transpired at the dojo.  The customers respectfully paid their bills and
left quickly.  Ken simply turned off the grill, cleared the counter and
locked the door, flipping the 'open' sign over as he went in.  
	As he walked up the stairs he could hear Ukyou crying anew and it
struck a despondent chord deep inside of him.  It was a painful sound to
hear.  
	"Ukyou?" he asked quietly at the door as he knocked.
	The crying stopped and he could hear her shuffle over to the door.
As she opened it, Ken could see her eyes were swollen and red.  Her hair
was a complete mess, and tears streaked her face.  Ukyou simply stared at
him and it dawned on her that Ken's face mirrored the pain she felt.  It
was comforting in a way.
	"Ukyou, if you want to be left alone, I understand."
	Ukyou shook her head slowly and opened the door.  Ken walked with
her to her bed and simply sat down next to her.  Both sat in silence as
Ukyou gazed out the door to opposite wall in the hall.  She jumped when
Ken placed a comforting arm around her shoulders.  Ukyou's body shook
before she broke down again.  Ken brought both arms around to hold her
reassuringly.  Ukyou simply clutched at him like a lifeline and cried.  As
he looked down on her shaking form, Ken's heart went out to her.  He could
feel the pain she was in.  It seemed to mirror the same feeling of
betrayal that he had experienced, only he hoped it wasn't as bad for
Ukyou.  Ken leaned back slightly to cradle Ukyou's sobbing figure in his
own and waited for her to calm down.  Ucchan's remained closed for the
rest of the day.

	"So you told her didn't you?"
	"I had to." Ranma said sullenly.
	"At least you got it over with." Akane replied quietly.
	"If I knew it was going to be this bad, I would have waited it out
a few more years and have everyone except you give up on me."
	"You know your mother would never have gone for that."
	"Yeah.  I know."  Ranma leaned against the wall of his room and
sighed.  "If your sister hadn't been snooping around and selling
information to my mom, this never would have happened."
	"You can't blame Nabiki." Akane replied.
	Ranma sighed.
	"I can't but it feels better blaming someone other than me."
	"You can't blame yourself, Ranma.  It wasn't your fault that Ukyou
reacted the way she did."
	"You think she's going to do anything drastic?"
	"Ranma, this is Ukyou we're talking about, not Kodachi."
	"Still though, I feel really concerned for her.  Do you think we
should check up on her?"
	"You think that's a good idea?"
	"I'd make me feel better, at least."
	"Alright Ranma, let's go." Akane said with a sigh.
	When they got to Ucchan's, a locked door and a sign saying
'closed' greeted them.  Ranma fidgeted nervously.
	"Maybe we should get going.  I don't think this was such a hot
idea anymore."
	Akane simply rapped on the door.
	"This was your idea Ranma, so be a man and take it." she replied.
	Ranma winced.
	"This isn't about being a man," he said irritably in his defense,
"it's about trying to stay friends with her without acting like an idiot."
	Akane grabbed Ranma and simply pushed him to the door when she
heard footsteps.  Ranma shuddered as a shadow fell down the stairs.  He
was enormously relieved that it was Ken that opened the door.
	Ranma sighed heavily and smiled warily.
	"It's a good thing you answered the door.  Is Ukyou okay?"
	Ken simply looked Ranma evenly before bloodying his nose.
	"What'd you do that for?!" Ranma yelled through his hands.
	"You really had to tear her heart out like that didn't you?" he
said flatly.
	"Do you think he had any say in how she'd take it?" Akane replied
hotly.
	"I think Ranma could have done a better job in the diplomatic area
if you ask me.  Ukyou came back a wreck.  You really must have said
something fierce to break her down like that."
	"You think she was going to take the line 'I'm not in love with
you' lightly?  How about 'I'm not going to marry you?'  You think she'd
take that well?"
	"She'd take it a lot better if you put it more diplomatically!"
Ken shouted.
	"Why should you care?  Isn't this what you wanted?  Now you got a
chance at Ukyou." Akane replied coolly.
	"Of course I care!" Ken hissed.  "Ukyou just fell asleep, so don't
wake her.  I suggest you leave."
	"I'm not the one screaming." Ranma replied bluntly.
	"You really had to drive the stake in, didn't you?  Do you have
any idea just how bad she had it for you, Ranma?  You could have told her
to die and she would have." Ken replied hotly.
	"Look, it's none of your business." Ranma replied defensively.
	Ken moved his face in front of Ranma's suddenly.  Ranma
instinctively took a step back.
	"I care a lot about what happens to Ukyou.  I am her friend, and
as her friend it concerns me when she comes back from the dojo bawling her
eyes out."
	Akane smirked.
	"You're in love with her, aren't you?"
	"I don't know what the word means.  I've had it used in so many
dirty tricks I have no idea what you could possibly mean by that."
	"You really do love her, don't you?  I mean, all those times you
just stared at her when she was around me and those times that you forgot
things when we went out." Ranma said as it slowly dawned on him.  "Akane
was right.  You're completely nuts over her."  Ranma smiled through his
bloody nose.
	"Shut up, Ranma.  The issue at hand is that you ripped her heart
out and you apparently feel no remorse over it other than to simply poke
fun at what you think it a trivial relationship between Ukyou and myself."
Ken sighed.
	"Just go away.  The last thing she needs is to see you.  There's
no telling what you might trigger if she sees you.  Just leave and don't
show up around here for a while.  Let Ukyou take care of things on her own
without you interfering.  I think you've done enough, don't you?" he
replied.
	Ranma looked at Ken evenly.  Truth rang in his words and they
echoed in his mind.  Akane seemed to feel the same as she looked over to
him and nodded.  
	"Look, I'm sorry about the nose.  It just came out suddenly.  I
don't know what came over me." Ken said apologetically.
	"Don't worry about it." Ranma replied.  "I think I know what
came over you."
	At that Akane and Ranma left.  Ken watched them walk down the
street and around a corner.  He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his
hair.  Things were so hectic now.  It was as if a bomb was dropped and the
pieces of what blew up were starting to fall down.
	"So what came over you?"
	Ken whirled around to see Ukyou sitting on the stairs in the
shadows.
	"Nothing." he replied quietly as he walked to the grill. 
	"I heard everything." Ukyou said quietly as she rose from her
seat.
	"I guess you saw everything too." Ken added.
	Ukyou simply nodded and walked over to sit next to where he leaned
against the bar.
	"Was everything that Ran-chan said true?  Is that how you feel
about me?"
	Ken looked away quickly.
	"I don't know what to say.  I never knew what love was supposed to
mean, you know that.  I've spent a good part of my life living under the
pretense of love, only to find out it was a sham."
	"Don't lie, Ken.  Please don't lie.  I couldn't take it if you
lied to me."
	Ken turned around to see Ukyou standing in front of him on the
verge of tears again.  Her hair was a mess and it looked like she hadn't
slept a wink despite the fact that he'd left her asleep in her room a few
minutes ago.  Yet despite all that, Ken thought she still looked radiant.
An kind of vulnerable innocence glowed from her and his heart skipped a
beat.
	"I've had enough for one day.  Just tell me the truth.  Are you a
friend, or is it something more?" she asked quietly.
	Ken stared at her as she started to tremble slightly.  He closed
his eyes tightly.
	"I always thought we were friends, Ukyou." he replied quietly.
	Ukyou could feel the tears beginning to fall.  A huge vacuum
suddenly opened up where her heart was and an empty void seemed to sit
there painfully.  She closed her eyes and started to turn away.
	"But you know I always wanted it to be something more than that."
Ken finished in a whisper.
	The void she felt in her chest suddenly, and violently, filled
itself when the words registered in her mind.  She could feel her knees
shaking as she turned to look at Ken standing before her, a look of
complete humility and sincerity in his eyes.  Ukyou searched his face for
some sign that he was lying, but couldn't.  The tension that she felt in
her body wound itself tighter and tighter until it snapped, and so did
she.  Ukyou let the tears fall again, and she didn't try stopping it this
time.  She wrapped her arms around Ken and gripped him with all her might.
It felt right, and it was something she knew she'd wanted from the start
but never acknowledged.  When she felt Ken's arms wrap around her for the
second time that day, she wept openly; but the tears of sadness were gone,
she was happy again.


*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

Member of SAUCE (it's what should* go on the okonomiyaki)
Civilian Advisor to the Warehouse, Chemical Superfreak
	Free Consultation on a Referral Basis
Member of USSRTFW:SR

TSAIE@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html