Well, here's more of it.  Hope everyone's enjoyed it so far.

One again, I note that while some of the charcaters, or all of them, may
be acting OOC, that's the way I envisioned them acting after the end of
the manga.

As usual, this isn't meant to infringe on any copyrights or offend Rumiko
Takahashi in any way.  This is a work of fiction by a fan for fans.
All other introduced characters are of my own creation and are
copyrighted.

C&C is more than welcome.  Please send it to my email address, or post
away if you feel like it.

Parts can be found at:

http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/fanfix.html

as well as some rough artwork I used to help things move along during my
writing.

Happy reading!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Nine

	"The movies?" Akane asked quietly.  She snuggled closer to Ranma.
He shifted so that she was sitting sideways in her arms, her shoulder
touching his.  His arms were wrapped around her, and they leaned into each
other in support.  Akane reveled in the moment.  Life was suddenly very
good for her.  Ranma simply enjoyed the result of finally unloading a
great weight from his shoulders.  Unfortunately, he realized complications
would come about like rabbits breeding.  Gotta take the good with the bad,
he thought.
	"Yeah.  I think it'd be nice to got to the movies."	
	"By ourselves?" Akane giggled.
	"Well, I was hoping to bring Ucchan and Ken along."
	"What?!"
	Ranma quickly tightened his grip and to keep Akane from worming
out of his grasp.
	"Hey, it's just a friendly thing." he protested.  "Don't get
worked up over it.  Things are starting to clear up now."
	"What do you mean?"
	"I guess I understand what Kasumi was trying to tell me." Ranma
chuckled.
	"So what happens now?" she asked.
	"Nothing.  I kinda like sitting here like this."
	Akane smiled and tried to bury herself in Ranma's arms.
	"I like it too." she agreed.  "I could sit like this for a long
time."
	They didn't get much time.  A knock on the door interrupted them.
Before they could disentangle themselves, the door opened and Ranma's
mother looked in.  She had a surprised look at first, but it quickly
changed to a more pleased look.
	"I see things are going well.  It is convenient that the two of
you are here together, since I have something I would like to discuss."
she said as she kneeled down in front of the two.
	Akane and Ranma quickly sat next to each other in the middle of
the room.  Both were very embarrassed and the crimson color of their faces
only affirmed it.
	"I would like you to know that I recently began showing your
friend Ken techniques regarding meditation.  It was during the first
session, if you will, that he had a rather serious outburst."
	Ranma winced slightly.
	"Ken told me about it." he said sullenly.  "He didn't mean
anything, Mom."
	"It's wasn't like that, Ranma.  I was rather disturbed by it,
naturally, but I think I can understand a little bit of his nature.  I
haven't been a mother, albeit in absence, and not learn how to read
people's feelings.
	"The greatest problem I see with Ken is that he needs a family.  I
believe that his current position in life has estranged him from what is
left of his family and his friends.  I fear that it may be too easily
exploited by other people."
	"So why do you want to talk to us about it?" Akane asked.
	"I feel that between the two of you, and Ukyou, the three of you
know him best.  I know that he works for Ukyou on a daily basis now, and I
will speak to her later on this issue; however, I would like the two of
you to keep a close eye on him.  I am afraid someone may try to take
advantage of him.  He appeared under very suspicious circumstances; and I
am afraid that those circumstances may provide a situation where Ken may
become confused.
	"I have also spoken to your father, Ranma, and I feel that it
would be a good idea to take Ken into our family.  It is difficult to
explain, and if you object to it, we may discuss it further."
	Ranma shook his head.
	"No problem.  I think it's a good idea.  Besides, it'd be fun to
see what having a brother's like." he said with a grin.
	"Very well.  I will speak to you later on this issue, when the
time is right.  In the meantime," Nodoka said with a broad smile, "I would
like you two to think about your wedding.  It means a great deal to me,
and I would like to see you two married soon."
	Ranma and Akane fidgeted under Nodoka's gaze.
	"I also think it is high time you took care of your fiance issues.
I think you may have made up your mind, and it is time to sort things out
now, son." Nodoka finished.  She got up from her seat and headed to the
door.
	"I'm very happy for the two of you." she said with a wink, and
left.

	Ken finished wiping the last of the tables and stood up to
stretch.  Ukyou was cleaning the grill and the food had been put away for
the rest of the night  She was hard at work scrubbing away at the grill,
trying to take out a spot that Ken couldn't see from his vantage point.
He walked over behind the grill.
	"Need any help?"
	"No, I'll be fine.  I'm just trying to get this last bit off the
grill.  It's pretty stubborn." she smiled.
	Ken pulled out a glass and poured himself a some water.  He took a
long drink and leaned back to look around.  As usual, his eyes came to
rest on Ukyou.  She was sweating and looked fairly tired.  Strands of hair
were plastered to her face as she methodically scraped away at the grill
with a small spatula.  She let out a small grunt in frustration and stood
up, exhaling loudly.  Ken chuckled and poured her a glass of water.  He
set it down on the counter in front of her.  Ukyou set down the spatula
and took it with a nod of thanks.  She finished the glass and reached back
for the spatula.  Ken's hand settled on hers.
	An electric tingle went up her spine and she looked over at Ken
nervously.
	"I'll take care of this." he said.  "You need to get to bed.  Go
on, shoo." he chided.  Ukyou smiled thankfully and went to lock the doors.
She was about to turn the key in the lock, when she saw Nodoka walk to the
door.  Ukyou immediately opened the door.
	"May I come in?" Nodoka asked.
	Ukyou nodded and gestured inside.
	Nodoka walked into the restaurant and smiled as Ken saw her and
waved.
	"I've just got some dishes left in the back.  I'll be done in a
few minutes. He called over to her as he walked to the back room.
	Nodoka turned and motioned for Ukyou to take a seat at a table
next to her.
	"It's a good thing Ken has a few chores left to finish.  I wished
to speak to you privately." she said.  
	Ukyou nodded attentively.
	"It has come to my attention that Ken has some personal issues
that need to be resolved.  It is difficult for me to describe, but please
take my word that there are some things that Ken has experienced in his
past that are extremely painful for him; and he has yet to fully heal from
those experiences."
	Ukyou nodded.
	"I've gotten the same impression from him." Ukyou replied.
	"I believe that the loss of his parents may be the foremost issue
he must resolve." Nodoka continued.  "It seems to me the death of his
parents, in his mind, links every bad experience together.
	"As his employer, and friend, I would like you to try to take some
time to help him feel more comfortable, and perhaps more accepted here.
I'm sure Ranma and Akane will help in any way possible.  As far as family
is concerned, both Genma and I are thinking of taking Ken in, and acting
as surrogate parents for him.  I think it would be beneficial for Ken, and
perhaps Genma." Nodoka finished with a smile.
	"I'll see what I can do." Ukyou replied.
	"I also would like to speak to you about the engagement issue."
	Ukyou winced.
	"I am sure you are aware of the necessity for my son to make his
decision." Nodoka continued.  "As his mother, I believe it is necessary
for his to make a decision as soon as possible to prevent any further harm
he may do to yourself and Shampoo.  As the only other person who has a
claim based on my husband's word, I think it would be wise for you to
speak to Ranma and Akane.  If you three do not sort things out soon,
things may become far too unbearable."
	"Why should I speak to Akane?" Ukyou asked in surprise.
	"Perhaps it would be good for the two of you to speak and become
more familiar with each other on terms other than as Ranma's fiances.  I
think it would help assuage any bad feelings that may develop should Ranma
decide between the two of you."
	Ukyou winced visibly.  Nodoka reached out to cover Ukyou's hand
with hers.  Ukyou took it instinctively.
	"I know it's very sudden and awkward for you, but I think it is
best that this happens now before things become long and drawn out.
Everybody will suffer if things become too drawn out." Nodoka said
quietly.  "If it makes you feel any better, I don't think Ranma will be
able to decide very easily.  I believe that both you and Akane are both
wonderful people; and it would make me very happy to be able to call one
of you my daughter."
	Ukyou smiled and nodded.  Nodoka stood up and looked about.
	"Is Ken finished?"
	Ukyou shrugged and walked to the back room.  Ken was piling the
rest of the washed dishes on the counter and draining the sinks.  He
looked up from his chore when Ukyou walked in.
	"Ranma's mother's here to see you." she said, pointing a thumb out
the door.  "I can take care of the rest of the things here."
	"Thanks." Ken replied with a smile.  He walked out to meet Nodoka,
brushing past Ukyou as he left.  Ukyou watched him leave.  There was a
strange feeling of sadness that Ranma would decide soon, but another
feeling of assurance with Ken around.  It was odd and Ukyo wasn't sure
what to make of it.
	"So what did she tell you?"
	Ken looked up from the book he was reading.
	"Not much," he said as he went back to his book.  "Just that she
wasn't able to see me for meditating lessons this evening.  She had some
rather pressing matters with Ranma."
	Ukyou sighed and looked aside.
	"Something wrong?"
	Ukyou turned back.  Ken had put the book down and was sitting
outstretched on his futon, his back against a wall and a pillow.
	"No.  Nothing's wrong."  A blatant lie, Ukyou thought.
	Ken looked at Ukyou for a moment and motioned for her to sit down
next to him.  Ukyou hesitated before slowly walking in.  She cast a glance
around the room before sitting.  She had come into this room many times
before, while Tsubasa and Konatsu lived in it, but it seemed so very
different, now that Ken lived there.  No pictures, no posters, no pictures
of Ranma with messages of hate or revenge scrawled on them.  Just a small
chest of drawers, and a futon propped in a corner of the room.  A pack
leaning against a wall next to his sword were the only indications that
someone lived in there.  Ukyou took her seat at the end of the futon,
furthest from Ken.
	"There's something that's bothering you, isn't there?" he asked.
	Ukyou sighed and looked out the door.
	"Not really, just a little tired, maybe."
	"You know, you always pried whenever I said that." Ken admonished.
	Ukyou looked at him with a sad smile.
	"But you've got far more problems than me.  Besides, the only
problem I have is nothing compared to the problems you've got, Sugar."
	"Nobody's problems are small.  They're all relative, and compared
to the things you put up with, I'm guessing it's a pretty big problem if
it's got you bothered.  Want to talk about it?"
	Ukyou looked at him for a moment.  She couldn't tell if he would
understand; but it was Ken, after all.  He was a person who had taken most
of his problems and lived with them without complaint.  Ukyou had never
seen him openly complain about his problems to her before.  But will he
understand, she asked herself.
	"I guess so.  I don't know if you'll understand, but I guess I can
tell you."
	Ken's heart dropped a notch.
	"So what's the problem?" he asked.
	"It's Ran-chan, I guess."
	Ken chuckled.
	"Somehow, I'm not surprised."
	Ukyou shot him a withering look.  Ken raised his hands
defensively.
	"Hey!  Just being brutally honest.  I'll shut my yap now."
	"Well, when you went to do the dishes, I had a little chat with
Ran-chan's mother.  It seems Ran-chan may be making his choice soon, and
I'm really scared that he won't choose me."
	"What makes you so sure he won't choose you?"
	Ukyou looked at him skeptically.
	"Well, Akane's pretty cute, and I'm sure he notices despite the
number of times he says otherwise.  She's not a great fighter, but she
plays the role of the helpless maiden pretty well.  A lot better than any
of us.  She's really a nice person if you get to know her pretty well.
She really is a friendly person when you don't mention Ran-chan and she's
completely forgotten about him." she said bitterly.
	"That's it?" Ken asked.
	"It's more than that.  When they're together, they just act a
certain way.  It's like they really want to be together even though they
act like they don't." she said quietly.
	"How do you know?"
	"I just do!" she shouted.
	Ken sat stoically as Ukyou glared at him, and then calmed herself.
	"I guess since Ran-chan and Akane live together, I feel like she's
got some kind of unfair advantage.  She sees him every day, and she gets
to talk and do things with him while I don't.  I always have to try that
much harder to make him notice me."  Ukyou felt tears starting to well up.
	"So you think you never really had a chance?" Ken asked quietly.
	Ukyou nodded her head somberly.
	"I think you're wrong." Ken said simply, and picked up his book.
	Ukyou shuffled over quickly and batted down his book.
	"What the hell do you mean 'you're wrong?'  What kind of jackass
thing to say is that?" she asked angrily.
	Ken chuckled and smiled, throwing her for a loop.
	"I think you're wrong.  Just as simple as that.
	"You think that Akane's cute.  So she's cute.  Does that mean that
you're any less cute than Akane?  I don't think so.  I'd go so far as to
say, you're one of the most beautiful women I've met." Ken said
cheerfully.  You actually are the most beautiful woman I've met, he
thought to himself.
	Ukyou blushed and hid a small smile at the compliment.
	"I don't think Ranma's that dense." Ken continued.  "Ranma would
have to be dead not to notice you.  I'd say the only reason you think
you're not cute enough is because you go through the entire ritual of
binding your chest; if I may be so bold to say so."
	Ukyou looked at him incredulously.
	"How did you-"
	"You have difficulty breathing sometimes, when you get pretty
excited or worked up about stuff.  At first I thought you were asthmatic,
but then I noticed how you always scratched your back in the same spot
whenever you had trouble breathing.  I figured you were trying to loosen
something.  Ranma told me how you used to masquerade as a boy, and how you
dress in men's clothes a lot of the time.  Then you told me that you acted
like a guy for a pretty long period of time.  I just figured that you must
be binding your chest."
	"You're not bothered by it?" Ukyou asked quietly.
	"No.  It's your business; and I still think you're cute." Ken
quickly clamped a hand over his mouth and put the book up to hide his
face.
	Ukyou giggled.
	"Go on." she said encouragingly.
	"Well, you said that Akane plays the helpless maiden pretty well.
How do you know Ranma likes that?  For all you know, he might be doing it
out of obligation.  Isn't a true martial artist supposed to help people
weaker than themselves?"
	Ukyou laughed.
	"Touch." Ukyou said with a grin.
	"Then you always say that you have to try hard to make Ranma
notice you.  I think he already notices you when you want him to.  You
don't need to do anything for people to notice you.  As for the way they
act together, that's something that's easy to see when you're not part of
it, and a lot harder to notice when you are.  How do you know the two of
you don't act that way already?"
	Ukyou looked at Ken with a wry grin.
	"So do we act that way?" she asked expectantly.
	Ken frowned inwardly.
	"It's not really my place to say, Ukyou.  It's a private affair
between you and Ranma." he said quietly.
	Ukyou looked at him quizzically.  Is he jealous, she asked
herself.
	"So I guess that's why I think you're wrong." Ken said,
interrupting Ukyou's train of thought.
	Ukyou sighed, and a certain sadness entered her eyes again.
	"But what if you're wrong?  What if I'm right?  What if Akane and
Ranma get married?  It almost happened already.  I spent years of my life
tracking him down, trying to find out if he loved me.  When I found him
everything seemed to be perfect, except for Akane, Shampoo, and the others
being around.  I thought that when I found him, we'd get married, or I'd
kick his sorry behind for leaving me.  If he marries Akane, then
everything will have been a waste."
	Ken looked at Ukyou pensively.
	"Really?  Will it all have been a waste?"
	Ukyou nodded her head sadly.
	"You never made any friends while you were here?"
	Ukyou shook her head.
	"Not really.  I spent all my time trying to be with Ran-chan." she
said.
	"What about family?"
	"They back where they belong, at home."
	"What about you?"
	"What about me?"
	"Are you at home?"
	"Here?  I don't know.  I always thought that I'd be at home
wherever Ran-chan was."
	"So you think you'll have wasted a great deal of time if Ranma
doesn't choose you as a wife?"
	Ukyou nodded silently.  Thoughts of her past and her uncertain
future assailed her.  Ukyou felt tears welling up again as a feeling of
futility hit her.
	"If you decided to forget everything and not spend the time to
track Ranma down to the ends of the Earth, would you have gotten a new
waiter?"
	Ukyou turned to stare at him angrily, until the full meaning of
what he meant hit her.
	"I wouldn't have met you if you weren't here." Ken said plainly.
	Ukyou felt a tear trickle down her cheek and she turned to wipe it
away from sight.  She felt a hand grasp her shoulder warmly.  She turned
to face Ken.
	"Ukyou, I want you to know that no matter how things turn out for
you, I'll be here for you.  You've done a great deal to help me since I've
come here and I'm grateful to have met someone as generous and caring as
you.  I owe you a great deal.  I hope that one day I might be able to give
you what you've given me."
	"And what's that?" she asked softly.
	Ken smiled warmly.
	"Unconditional friendship."  Hopefully more, Ken thought.
	Ukyou felt a wall break in her heart, and she broke down.  She
grabbed Ken and let him reach around to take her into a gentle embrace.
She cried into his chest as a hundred different emotions assaulted her.
In the end when she calmed herself, she knew that while Ranma may not
choose her, perhaps someone just as important to her already had.

	"So what happens now?"
	"Don't look at me," Ranma said defensively, "I have absolutely no
idea.  I'm as worse off as you."
	Akane frowned.  The two of them sat together in his room, and had
been since Nodoka had left them well over an hour or so ago.  Her
conversation had struck some alarm bells in both of them.  
	"So does that mean we have to get married?" Ranma asked.
	"You don't want to marry me?" Akane asked quietly.
	"Well, not really." Ranma said sheepishly.  Before Akane could
bring out her mysterious mallet from nowhere, he tackled her in a warm
embrace and laughed.  "I'm not saying I don't want to marry you ever."
	Akane giggled as Ranma tickled her, using his own body to pin her
down.
	"I just don't think getting married now is a good idea." he
finished.  
	Akane reached her arms around and hugged Ranma fiercely.
	"Not that marrying you would be that bad." he whispered to her.
	"I think we should wait too, Ranma." she whispered back.
	"So what happens now?  What do we tell everyone?" he asked as he
sat back on his haunches.
	Akane sat up and frowned.
	"I guess we can't really say anything yet." she replied.  "There'd
be chaos if we did.  I think we should make everyone here at home promise
not to tell either.  We need to figure out how to tell everyone, without
making a huge mess like the wedding fiasco."
	Ranma nodded.
	"Well, I guess you should go to bed.  We have to go to school
tomorrow, you know."
	Akane got up to leave, but paused at the door and giggled.
	"What's so funny?" Ranma asked.
	"You know, I never asked if you'd choose me to be your real
fiance, but you did anyway."
	Ranma grinned sheepishly.
	"Yeah, I kinda assumed we were going to get married." he said.
	"It worked out pretty well didn't it?"
	Ranma chuckled and flopped back onto the mats.
	"You don't hear me complaining, do you?"
	Akane laughed and closed the door after her.

	"So you're supposed to meet them for a movie later?"
	Ukyou looked up from the miniature okonomiyaki she was making on
the grill.
	"No, tomorrow night.  Ran-chan and Akane wanted us to join them
for a movie." she replied casually.
	"No big deal then, I suppose.  You want me to close up shop for
you?"
	Ukyou reached out across the counter to lightly slap Ken's hand.
	"Look, silly, I told you it's not a date.  Ran-chan's taking
Akane, and he wanted both of us to come along." she admonished gently,
while flipping the okonomiyaki.
	"Is he going to get into trouble?"
	"What?"
	"Well, he's going to a movie with Akane.  If he wants us along,
does that mean he wants us to try to keep him out of trouble?"
	Ukyou smiled.
	"I don't think so.  It's not a date.  I think this is just a few
friends getting together."
	"Oh." Replied Ken nonchalantly.  He folded his arms on the counter
and rested his chin.
	"Say, why don't you go to school?" Ukyou asked after a few moments
of silence.
"I didn't think I needed to.  I've finished my schooling, and I've gone as
far as I think I need to go."
	Ukyou looked at him skeptically.
	"I hear that from a lot of people." she said with a smile.  "Are
you that sure of yourself?"
	"It's hard to explain.  I've already had the entire 'life's a
learning experience' lecture.  Let's just say I was really advanced for a
kid, where I came from, and I finished all the classes I needed, et
cetera."
	Ukyou laughed.
	"I still think it's a good idea for you to go to school."
	"Why?"
	"Well, I think you'd get pretty bored sitting around for half the
day."
	"I don't.  I work out while you're gone."
	"Then at school, you'll have the chance to socialize and make new
friends."
	"I've got all the friends I need here."
	Ukyou blushed.
	"I didn't mean it that way.  You could make some new
acquaintances.  Things like that.  I didn't mean to say that you needed
more friends."
	Ken smiled.
	"I know what you mean.  I appreciate it."
	"So you'll go to school?"
	"Maybe.  It depends."
	Ukyou raised an eyebrow.
	"On what?" she asked.
	"Well, are you, Ranma, and Akane going to be in my class?"
	Ukyou laughed.
	"If you really think you want to start at our level.  Didn't you
say you had enough of an education?"
	"Well, if it means I get to hang around with my friends some more,
I guess it's a sacrifice I can make." Ken said with a grin.
	Ukyou rolled her eyes.
	"Great."
	"Hey!  Don't take it the wrong way!  I was just joking." Ken said
defensively.
	Ukyou snickered.
	"I know.  I'm just making fun of you."
	"You like to do that a lot."
	"Just because it's so fun.  You want me to stop?"
	"No, it's actually not bad.  I think I kind of like it." Ken said
sheepishly.  "It makes me feel like I've got family."  Or someone that
cares, he thought.
	Ukyou chuckled as she took the okonomiyaki off the grill.
	"I can take care of the grill.  You go eat." Ken said as he got up
from his seat.
	Ukyou sat down with a nod.  She watched as Ken left the room.  As
she slowly munched on the okonomiyaki, she wondered what Ranma wanted to
do at the movies.

	Things passed quickly for Akane, Ranma, and Ukyou.  The
anticipation of getting out of the house and away from their scheming
parents helped move things along for Ranma and Akane.  The want of being
close to Ranma again made things fly by for Ukyou.  Ken simply thought the
day was going along at its usual pace.
	"Aren't you taking this a little bit seriously?  I thought you
were the one saying that this wasn't a date." Ken said as he leaned in the
doorway of Ukyou's room.  He casually wiped his hands on a dry hand towel.
	"Just help me out here.  I don't have that many clothes that
actually look like a girl's.  I never thought I'd need them." Ukyou
complained.
	Ken laughed.
	"Just wear what you feel is comfortable.  You're not competing
with anyone."
	Ukyou glared at him.
	"Akane going to the movies too, right?"
	"She is, but I don't see why you have to make this into a
competition.  If Ranma notices you, then he does.  If he doesn't, then
he's blind." Ken said with a grin.
	Ukyou grinned.
	"Thanks for the pep talk, coach."
	Ken laughed and turned to go back down tot he restaurant.
	"No problem, sport." he called over his shoulder.
	Ukyou looked back at the sky blue dress she held in her hands.  It
was a plain, rather conservative dress.  Nothing as inviting as the
clothes Shampoo chose to wear when meeting Ranma, but it was nice.  Ukyou
frowned.  She wondered if this was how she wanted to go to the movies,
trying to impress Ranma at every moment.
	If I don't, he'll never notice me, a voice screamed in her head.
	Does it matter, asked another voice.  If he was going to notice
me, wouldn't he have noticed earlier?
	Ukyou wanted to scream.  It was impossible for her.  The want to
impress Ranma was overwhelming, yet there was a small voice of reason that
said otherwise.  A voice broke her out of her pensive train of thought.
	"The restaurant's clean.  Anything else you need me to do?"
	"Nope, just get ready for the movie, I guess." she called back in
a strained voice.
	Ukyou turned back to the dress on her bed.  She made up her mind.
It was with a slightly frantic pace that she tore off her shirt and began
unwrapping the cloth that bound her chest.  She was almost done when she
was startled by Ken's voice.
	"Whoa!  Sorry, really sorry!  Excuse me!" he said embarrassed.  
	Ukyou whirled around to see Ken bolting from her room, his face
looking like it was going to explode from all the blood rushing there.
She smiled and chuckled.  Just like Ran-chan, she thought.  When she
finished she whirled around in front of the mirror, watching the hem of
the dress swirl around her.  Very feminine, compared to her usual clothes.
Ukyou decided it was a good job.  As she walked to the bathroom to put on
the finishing touches, she ran into something that thoroughly shocked her.
	Upon opening the door to the bathroom, she was greeted by the
sight of Ken naked, save for a towel wrapped around his waist.  Her
entrance immediately shocked him into near unconsciousness.  As Ken stood
rooted to his spot like a deer in headlights, Ukyou couldn't help but
stare.  Definitely less muscle to see than Ran-chan, but a lot more tone,
she thought to herself.  She immediately mentally slapped herself into
lucidity and closed the door, muttering an embarrassed apology.
	"Why didn't the jackass lock the door?!" she muttered to herself.
	Ken watched in horror as the door first opened, allowing Ukyou to
walk in before he could even squeeze the recommended inch of toothpaste
onto his brush.  He stood shocked as she seemingly appreciatively sized
him up and then politely excused herself.  Ken couldn't tell who was the
more embarrassed party, Ukyou or himself.  When she left, the sudden
immobility drained from his body and he quickly reached over and locked
the door.  
	"Could have sworn the door was locked." he muttered to himself.
Ken chuckled.  "Guess I switched from waiter to male dancer." he said to
nobody in particular.  After brushing his teeth rapidly, Ken peeked
outside the bathroom door.  Seeing nobody around, he quickly sped to his
room and dressed himself hurriedly.  When he walked down the stairs to the
restaurant, he saw Ukyou leaning against the counter, sipping a cup of
tea.
	Upon seeing him enter the room, Ukyou blushed and muttered an
apology.
	"Sorry about walking in on you." she mumbled.
	"I should have locked the door.  That was my fault." Ken replied.
"Besides, I should be apologizing for walking in on you.  I was going to
ask about moving some things in the back room, and walked in without
knocking.  I'm really sorry about that."
	Ukyou laughed.
	"I guess we're even then?" she said laughingly.
	Ken laughed at the joke.
	"I guess so.  Let's go.  Ranma and Akane are probably waiting for
us."
	"You're not going to compliment me on my dress?  I thought you of
all people, you would."
	Ken raised his hands defensively.
	"Your beauty shorted my brain.  I apologize for my rudeness.  You
look absolutely stunning." he said with a short bow
	Ukyou blushed.
	"You think so?"
	"I know so." Ken replied with a grin.
	"You think Ran-chan will notice?"
Inwardly, Ken wilted; but keeping with appearances, he gave a good natured
laugh.
	"I'm sure he'll notice.  He'd have to be blind not to."
	"I wish Ranma acted more like you.  He never seems to notice."
Ukyou said with a sigh.  "Shall we?"
	Ken smiled.
	"Let's go."

	"Hurry up Ranma!  They'll be here any minute now?  Why did you
tell them to meet us here?"
	"I didn't!  That was Mom's idea!" he shouted through his door.
	Akane sighed.  Nodoka was becoming less and less subtle with the
hints that Ranma would need to decide soon.  It felt like Nodoka knew how
the two of them felt and want them to act on it immediately.
	"Can't you hurry?!" she asked in an exasperated voice.
	She saw the door open, and Ranma's head peeked out.  After looking
about furtively, he grabbed Akane and dragged her into the bathroom.
Ranma was in his boxer shorts again, and was brushing his teeth.  Akane
recoiled slightly at the sight of him foaming at the mouth.  He quickly
spat, rinsed and dried off his face and grinned.
	"Keep that up and Mom will definitely start thinking we need to
spend more time together." he said with a laugh.
	Akane frowned.
	"I thought you cared.  Don't you want to spend more time with me?"
	Ranma couldn't stand seeing Akane pout, an act she apparently
drummed up as an effective way of making him do things.  I guess I don't
really mind if she gets pretty comfy in the end, he mused.
	"Of course I do.  What's the big deal?"
	Akane inwardly shouted in triumph.  The pouting act was working
flawlessly.  It tugged at just the right strings.
	"I thought you cared." she said.
	Ranma's mind raced.  The new act was definitely throwing him for a
loop.  He acted the way he thought would be appropriate.
	"I thought you liked-" Akane was cut off suddenly, but didn't
really mind.  She returned the unexpected kiss from Ranma eagerly.
	When Ranma walked out the bathroom, he had a big grin on his face.
The look on Akane's face when he had done it was well worth it.  It wasn't
that he didn't like kissing her.  In fact, it was rapidly becoming an
enjoyable pastime; but the look of complete surprise was too good to
forget.
	Turnabout's fair play, he thought with a smile.




*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
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