There was a request for parts 1-4, so I just decided to go
ahead and repost all 6 parts (stop whining - they're short).  It's
been a while since I've looked at this and I know it could use a
good go-through, but I haven't.  :)



 
Friends No More

     "I'm sorry, Ukyo."  Oh no.  He had used Ukyo, not Ucchan.  This was 
bad, more than bad.  "I just don't feel that way about you.  I will 
always think of you as my friend, but nothing more than my friend.  
Please don't do this to yourself."  Oh no no nonononono...

     "But Ranchan, I can't give you up!  Don't you see, you're my life!"  
My life, no one else, only him.  All this time, it's been him.  The 
reason I'm here, the reason I've put my whole life on hold, all for him.  
All because of him.  "I'm tired of being just your friend.  I deserve 
more than being just your friend!  I deserve more than Akane!  Why are 
you doing this to me?"  Why?  Why me?  My life...  No, what _used_ to be 
my life has just been destroyed.  More!  I deserve more!  I deserve more 
out of life than what I've got!  "Damn you, Ranma Saotome!  More!  I'm 
worth more than your pity!  I'm not a leftover!"

     Sadness, anger, jealousy, the most profound sense of loss...  But 
there were no tears.  They weren't worth wasting on this person who 
couldn't see how devoted I had always been.  Wasting... my life wasting 
away.  Ten years searching for revenge.  And then wasting my life on 
loving someone who just didn't care.  Friend?  Ha!  He didn't know what 
a friend was.  Who were his friends?  He claimed I was his friend, but 
not very often did he show it.  When did he truly act like my friend?  
He sure found time to take advantage of all the free okonomiyaki I gave 
him.  He sure liked to _act_ like my friend.

     Frustration.  This was all so frustrating.  I could see the way he 
was looking at me.  His eyes were always so clear and bright.  He 
couldn't lie, he didn't love me.  "My friend..."  The tears were 
threatening.  Not for the loss of Ranma Saotome, but for my loss.  The 
loss of a large period of my life and my childhood.  It was like my 
innocence had been ripped from my body and left me a hollow shell of a 
child.  And that was what I felt like: a child.  I straightened my back, 
standing full in front of him and his pitying gaze.  "My friend... no 
more."

     I turned my back to him.  friend no more...  The words were 
haunting even though I had said them only seconds before.  It hurt.  A 
lot.  The young man I had loved but didn't love me, I was turning my 
back on him.  Was I ending a section of my life?  Or was I giving up?  
No, I wasn't giving up.  Because if I was giving up, I was admitting 
that my life was a waste.  Ending a portion of my life.  Closing a 
chapter.  Letting him go.  Making my own way, ending the clinging, 
desperate need.

     "No more."  I walked away from him, still wanting to turn around 
and throw myself at him.  It was hard to stop myself, but I knew it 
would be worse to do it.

     I forced myself to place one foot in front of the other, to keep 
going.  It seemed the further away I got, the easier it became.  Friend 
no more.. for now.


     Friend Again

     "Hey, Ranchan."  He looked up, surprise all over his face.  I 
smiled for him.  I didn't want him to think I was angry or bitter.  Not 
anymore.  "How are you?"

     "Uh..."  Speechless, as usual.  "I'm OK."  He looked frightened.

     "That's good to hear."  How to explain it all?  Where to begin?

     "Um, Ukyo."  Too afraid to call me Ucchan, not unexpected.  
"Where...?"

     "Oh, I was just getting my life together.  Putting things into 
perspective.  Cleaning myself up."  This was as good a time as any.  If 
I didn't explain, he would only treat me like a bug sharing his lunch.  
That I didn't want.  "I just wanted to figure out how I really felt, and 
why.  I had to consider what you said and what I said.  And I've come to 
a conclusion."  His fear had been replaced by curiosity.  I wasn't 
acting myself; he knew it, but not why.  "I've changed.  I'm not the 
person I used to be."

     "But what about..."

     I shook my head, still smiling.  "I like to think I'm over you.  It 
was the only way to keep my sanity.  It's been four months of soul-
searching.  I found some things I wasn't too happy with and decided to 
fix those problems."

     "You mean you're not..."

     I cut him off.  "Ranma Saotome," I said forcefully, "you are not 
my fiance."

     He gaped, his mouth started to open and close.  He hadn't grown up 
at all in those four months.  "But Ukyo."  I almost laughed at his much 
abbreviated objection.

     "No 'buts'.  You are not my fiance by my own choice.  Do not try 
to keep me at your feet, I refuse to be there.  You are not my fiance, 
you are my friend."  Boy that felt good.  I had been waiting at least a 
month to tell him that, gathering the courage to face him.  And I did 
it, and it felt good.

     "Ucchan.  I don't know what to say.  What about what you said 
before?  Not being my friend..."  He was confused beyond his limits.

     "Ranchan, I just had to accept what you said for myself.  I had to 
accept your feelings for me... and Akane."  I took a step closer to him.  
"Please, I just want to be your friend now.  Nothing more.  I just want 
you to treat me like a friend."  I extended my hand as sort of a 
contract.  A contract of friendship.

     He looked at me, looked at my hand.  Slowly, his face showed the 
lightheartedness I was used to.  He smiled at me then, and made me feel 
that I had done exactly the right thing.  He took my hand in his firm 
grip and squeezed once before releasing it.  "I'd like that a lot, 
Ucchan."

     "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you around then."  I waved to him.  
"Bye."  He raised his hand in farewell as I left.  Friends again.  It 
felt good to have my friend back.


     Oil and Water

     "Come on, Ucchan.  He's all wrong.  He's too short and his arms are 
too thin."

     "He's got nice hair.  And kind eyes."

     "How can you see his eyes from here?  Besides, those arms are a 
dead giveaway.  No good."

     "I'm only looking for someone to meet, not marry.  Don't be such a 
harsh judge."  I looked at him sternly.  "You know, I bet a few people 
could say some not so nice things about you before they actually met 
you."

     He looked at me, that familiar smirk taking its place.  "Yeah, I 
guess I could give some people the wrong idea."  He looked at the young 
man walk down the street.  "I still think those arms are too skinny..."

     I swatted him lightly on the arm and laughed.  "Ranchan, you'll 
never change."

*     *     *

     "Ucchan, you know Ryoga."  He shoved Ryoga forward.  Yeah, I knew 
him.  Barely.

     "Hel.. hello."  Ryoga smiled, his little fangs peeking out.  "Oof!"  
He turned and glared at Ranma for elbowing him in the back before 
holding out a fistful of flowers.  "These are for you."

     Why, oh why, did I let Ranchan talk me into this?  I smiled at 
Ryoga.  He was a little cute, I suppose.  I took the bouquet, a 
collection of brightly colored wildflowers, and spared a quick glance to 
Ranma.  He winked at me.  "Thank you, Ryoga," I said.  Why did I feel so 
nervous?  This was definitely the last time I let myself be set up on a 
date.

     "Um, why don't we go get something to eat," Ryoga suggested.  There 
was a tremor in his voice.  Apparently he was as nervous as me, the 
silly smile he couldn't get rid of was all the proof I needed.

     "Sure.  Where did you have in mind?"  Might as well try to make the 
best of it.

     "Well, I thought, maybe we could..."

     Ranma backed away slowly, leaving us to our date.

*     *     *

     "So how was it?"  Ranma's eyes were glittering like he had just 
discovered a cure for his curse.

     I shrugged.  "All right."

     "All right?  That's it?"  He better not be taking this as some 
knock to his honor.  He was taking this whole thing far too seriously.

     "Yeah.  It was fine.  We had a good time and that's it."  I felt 
like some sort of new ki technique under heavy study.  His eyes were 
wide and focused right on me.

     "So you had a good time then?"

     "That's what I said.  We had a good time.  Dinner was fine and the 
movie was fine."  Fine, good, but not great.  I leaned forward a bit in 
my seat.  "You know Ryoga's a nice guy and all but..."

     "Nice guy... I suppose.  But what?"

     I reduced my voice to a whisper.  "He is _really_ hung up on 
Akane."

     Ranma laughed, nodding his head.  "Yes he is.  He just can't give 
her up.  There was Akari, but he was too stuck on Akane to keep with 
her.  I think Akari was too nice for him anyway."

     I gave him a sour look.  "Too nice for him?  Then what are you 
saying about me?"  What nerve, it seemed like Akane was going soft on 
the tough love for him to say something like that.

     His laughter died.  "No, nothing like that.  I just think he could 
do with someone who wouldn't treat him like the sun, moon and stars all 
the time.  I've been on the receiving end of your spatula enough to 
know..."

     Eh, I suppose it was true.  But still...


     Nice Guys DO Finish Last

     "Ryoga, you know you're a nice guy and all... But you're just not 
my type."  He was looking at me strangely, almost like he was mentally 
lost.  "I enjoyed when we went out, but that's all."  He was missing 
something, something that I had seen in Ranchan.  Maybe it was that 
carefree spirit; I don't think Ryoga could _ever_ be carefree.

     "Of course."  His voice was flat and emotionless.  I hoped he 
wouldn't fire off one of his blasts, those can get ugly.  I really hoped 
I didn't hurt his feelings, that wasn't what I wanted.  I didn't want to 
hurt anybody.

     I suppose if we had started out as friends, maybe I could have 
gotten to know him a bit better.  But a half blind date is not the way 
to get to know someone.  "I'm sorry, Ryoga.  It was a mistake to let 
Ranchan push me into this."  The tough part.  "Maybe we can be friends?  
You know, and just hang out sometimes."  The thing everyone knows is the 
kiss of death: let's be friends.

     He looked at me, his eyes bleary like he'd been crying.  But he'd 
been here since the morning.  I guess Ranchan's stories about Ryoga's 
depression weren't exaggerated.  "Friends?" he asked.  He sounded 
pitiful too.  He really needed to get off the downers.

     "Yeah.  Maybe Ranchan has a problem with you, but I don't.  I had 
fun the other night.  I know I didn't say anything, but I haven't 
enjoyed myself that much in quite a while."

     "Even though I got us lost?"  His eyes cleared up almost 
immediately.  Sometimes I get so tired of the macho ego of martial 
artists.  Did Ryoga think I was counting on him to be my future husband 
or something?  He apparently thought I would hate him for not being a 
good match.  Heck, I didn't even know if he wanted to go out with me, 
why would he be so upset?

     So I couldn't help but laugh a little.  "Yeah.  Even though you got 
us lost.  We found our way back didn't we?  Though we didn't see the 
movie I wanted to, I still had fun."

     His eyes got that little shine to them, like he was seeing a light 
at the end of a dark tunnel.  Just how desperate was Ryoga?  The answer 
to myself would have to be very.  I don't think he'll ever get what he 
wants, Ranchan and Akane are too lost in each other when they're not 
arguing.  Well, I can be a friend.  I always liked to think I was easy 
to get along with, easy to talk to.  And that's what it seemed like 
Ryoga needed.

     As for any more 'dates', no way.  Sure it's nice to go out and do 
the things that friends do, but he could never be my boyfriend or 
anything.  At first it was because I didn't know him; now it's that I 
know him too well.  He's perpetually depressed and thinks the whole 
world is out to get him.  He keeps grudges longer than I do (or at least 
did) and he refuses to think anyone would be his friend.  But he needs a 
friend. He needs a friend a lot more than a girlfriend.

     Me?  I'm still young, I don't need to grab on to the first guy I go 
on a date with.  And I don't need anyone to set me up.  I know I can 
find someone on my own.  Gods know I've got the time to find someone 
just right for me, whoever and wherever he might be.  Possibly, in a few 
years, if he ever manages to grow up, Ryoga wouldn't be too bad...  

     I turn my attention back to the okonomiyaki cooking in front of me.  
It's a little overdone, but Ryoga eats it like there's no tomorrow.  He 
really is a good guy and I can't keep myself from smiling at him.

END

[Whoa...  There was a considerable amount of time between 1-4 and
5-6.  Guess it shows.  :)  What can I say?  It all looks the same
in HTML anyway.]


			Green-Eyed Monster

	"This is Ken."  I smiled.  I liked Ken a lot.
	Ranchan, on the other hand, looked less than impressed.
"Hi," he said noncommittally.
	Ken was nervous, sweating rivers.  He barely got out a
greeting in return.  "Hi..."
	That was my cue.  "So who's up for some freebies?"  That
would get Ranchan; he never turned down free food.  This time he
seemed un-enthused.
	"Thanks, Ucchan, but I've got other things to do," he
said, rising from his stool.  "Maybe I'll see ya later."  He gave
a half-hearted wave and walked out.
	So much for that.  Sometimes Ranchan can be so
thick-headed.  I looked at Ken, who was still nervous.  "How 'bout
you Ken?  You want something?"  I must be attracted to guys who
can't turn down free food.
	"Sure," he answered, loosening up.  He smiled a little; I
liked to see Ken smile.
	I had warned him Ranchan could be a little... Well, kind
of a macho pig at times, and that he shouldn't take anything
personally.  I guess I didn't count on Ranchan taking it so badly.
I always knew Ranchan was _slightly_ possessive, but he had
nothing to be upset over.
	So I started to get mad.  Damn it.  I had made the
sacrifice, I had agreed to give him up as my fiance, and now that
I had found someone, he decided he wanted to keep me?  I frowned
and started mixing the batter with a fury.
	I know I wasn't always the most rational, forward thinking
person, sometimes I could get just a bit violent...  But I like to
think that once I let something go, I could let it go forever.  I
liked to think that I had matured.  I suppose Ranchan hadn't.
	Cooking, something I could do if I was asleep, was also my
'therapy'.  I had time to think when I was cooking, but this time
I was just mad.  
	Ranchan pushed me on that date with Ryoga; Ranchan pushed
me to find someone else.  I convinced myself that I needed to get
on with my life and Ranchan had seemed all for it.  Too bad he
couldn't get over it.
	"Hey, Ukyo," Ken's voice came from behind me.
	I stopped what I was doing, realized I had been zoning.
"Coming right up, Ken," I said, pushing down the anger.
	"I'm sorry about Ranchan.  He's not usually so rude."
Well, most of the time.  "He just hasn't grown up."  I turned and
set the plate in front of Ken.
	"The whole fiance thing?"
	"Right.  It just makes me mad that he thinks he's some
sort of...  What's the word?"
	"Pimp?"
	I stared at Ken.  Then I giggled.  If only Ranchan had
heard that.  The one aspect that Ranchan really hated about his
life, all the girls, and he had just been accused of doing it
professionally.  I started laughing harder, Ken's smile growing
wide.
	"I think Ranchan would hurt you if he heard you say that,"
I said, between fits of laughter.
	Ken suddenly stopped laughing.  "Are you serious?"
	I just couldn't stop laughing.  Ranchan as a pimp.  The
idea was so absurd.  I could only nod to Ken.
	"Ukyo, I don't want to be hurt.  I think Ranma could very
easily bend me in half."
	I nodded again, the laughter starting to slow.  Ken was so
silly.
	"Come on, Ken.  Eat up.  And I won't let Ranchan hurt you,
even if he is a possessive, thick-headed, macho twit."


			Get A Life

	"I need advice."
	"So why did you come to me?  I thought you were mad at
me."
	"I could never be mad at you."
	"Then why did you act like that last week?"
	"Act like what?"
	"Come on, Ranchan.  Don't play stupid.  You treated Ken
like he was an inanimate object.  And you acted like I was made of
cold water."
	"I don't know..."
	"Please.  If you're going to be like this, why don't you
just leave.  I have more important things to do than take your
crap then help you out when you get yourself in trouble."  I
didn't like being angry at Ranchan, but he had to know I wouldn't
be his floormat.
	Apparently, I got through to him.  He had a funny look on
his face; it appeared to be disbelief.  His mouth worked a little,
then his face fell.  "You're right, Ucchan.  I'm sorry."
	Well maybe he was growing up.  It was a start.
	"You know I just don't think that guy's good enough."
	"You'll never think anyone's good enough.  I know you
tried to dump Ryoga on me so he'd stop hanging around Akane."
	He looked down, his face getting a little red.
	"I don't need you to act like my father.  I'm perfectly
capable of living my own life.  I think it's about time you tried
the same."
	"What?  You're saying I can't live my own life?  I've been
living my own life for the past year; and it hasn't been easy."
	"You've been going through the motions, meddling with
other people's lives.  Worry about yourself for once.  I don't
know why you can't leave well enough alone."
	"Are you kidding?  If it was possible, you know I'd say
'see ya' to the entire mob and spend my days sleeping in a
hammock."
	Well, I suppose it wasn't ALL his fault.  But enough was
to make me annoyed at his innocent act.  "All right, Ranchan.  So
what's your problem?"
	"Well, ya see..."  He scratched the back of his head and
looked at the counter.  "There's this girl I like...  But we
always fight and I can never say what I mean.  And there's this
other girl who's always been my best friend...  And sometimes I
treat her bad.  I'm just no good with girls.  Can you help?"


END END END  For real, I think...